Outreach and Coordination Projects & Programs

 Ports and Harbors Program

The Cal OES Ports and Harbor Program Maritime Emergency Service Coordinators perform assists California Ports and Harbors to prepare for, response to, and recover from disasters.

During an emergency, our Maritime Emergency Service Coordinators work with the State Operations Center (SOC), Regional Emergency Operations Center (REOC), Joint Field Office (JFO), Area Field Office (AFO), Local Assistance Center (LAC), or at other location to help share information on the ongoing incident, and get needed resources to the right location, on-time, and ready to assist.

The program grew out of Assembly Bill (AB) 2274 (Karnette), Chapter 859, Statutes of 2006, which was approved by the Governor on September 30, 2006. The bill requires local, regional, and statewide agencies responsible for emergency preparation and response activities work with all harbor agencies within their jurisdiction to ensure integration of the harbor agencies emergency preparation, response, and evacuation plans.

To find the latest contacts for a Maritime Emergency Services Coordinator please use the following links:

North Coast:

Cal OES Coastal Region Operational Area Assignments as of August 2021

South Coast:

Cal OES Southern Operational Area Assignments as of November 2021

If your concern is for a county not listed or for more information, please contact maritime@pfwt.caloes.ca.gov or infoshare@pfwt.caloes.ca.gov

California Maritime Security Council (CMSC)

California has a vital interest in ensuring the security of its deep-water ports, coastal waters, and over 840 miles of coastline. In today’s economy, shipping and maritime commerce are essential for participation in the global marketplace. Our ports are the engines that power the national economy.

The California Maritime Security Council (CMSC) was created by Executive Order S-19-06 to enhance port security through statewide collaboration and information sharing.

The CMSC acts as an advisory body to the Governor in matters related to Maritime Security. Its mission areas include:

  • Identifying areas where port stakeholders can improve statewide collaboration and information sharing to identify potential threats;
  • Identifying areas where institutionalized coordination through codified processes will enhance security, emergency response procedures, communications, coordinating contingency planning and other areas of mutual responsibility across the State of California;
  • Development and review a statewide maritime security strategy;
  • Preparing plans to quickly recover from a catastrophic event at a California port; and
  • Assist the Area Maritime Security Committees (AMSC) within the State of California for the development of a strategy to increase the amount of homeland security funding California receives from the United States Department of Homeland Security by establishing baseline levels of preparedness

The CMSC meets semi-annually and provides updates, strategic direction and guidance, and to govern the working group’s focus and implementation of joint initiatives.
For more information, please contact maritime@pfwt.caloes.ca.gov or Infoshare@pfwt.caloes.ca.gov

Infrastructure Protection Working Group (IPWG)

The Infrastructure Protection Working Group (IPWG) brings together homeland security partners and programs within the state to help collectively address threats and hazards to critical infrastructure.

The IPWG membership comes from the State Threat Assessment System (STAS) Critical Infrastructure Protection or Risk Management Units, Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) representatives, emergency management organizations, and security staff from county and local offices throughout the state.

The working group meets quarterly and upon request by a member to address a specific threat or hazard.

For more information about the IPWG, please contact infoshare@pfwt.caloes.ca.gov

Special Events Assessment Rating (SEAR)

SEAR Events are voluntarily submitted special events, which are sent to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Operations Coordination (OPS) by state, local, and federal officials for a risk assessment. 

Get more information on the DHS SEAR Program

For more information on how CIP helps collect information on these events, email infoshare@pfwt.caloes.ca.gov

VALIDS Initiative

The Validation and Analysis of Lifeline Infrastructure (VALID) data sharing initiative’s purpose is to create a collaborative space for the development of accurate, timely geospatial data from the best possible sources. This data helps to better understand threats and their impacts on key infrastructure systems within the State of California.

 The initial goal of this initiative is to locate and share accurate data to support wildland fire emergency response. Our approach centers on key infrastructure such as transportation, energy, water, and communications systems. The initiative will look to expand across all infrastructures and all hazards as permitted by the resources available to participating organizations.

For more information contact infoshare@pfwt.caloes.ca.gov