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The Emergency Management Department coordinates the interdepartmental preparedness, planning, training and recovery activities of the Emergency Operations Organization, its divisions, and all City departments. Additionally, it serves as a liaison with other municipalities, state and federal agencies, and the private sector; it also performs related public education and community preparedness activities.
THE GENERAL MANAGER
 James
G. Featherstone was appointed the General Manager of the Emergency Management Department on October 1, 2007 Mr. Featherstone is a veteran of the United States Navy and made the jump to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 1986. While working for the LAFD, he served tours as a Public Information Officer, Fire Academy Instructor, Chief Officer’s Staff Assistant, Station Commander, and Task Force Commander.
Mr. Featherstone is a veteran of the 1992 Civil Disturbance, 1993 Firestorm, the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, and numerous local major emergencies and regional campaign incidents. In the spring of 2000, Featherstone was selected as a Fire Plans Officer for the 2000 Democratic National Convention (DNC). He was instrumental in the development of the Fire Department’s Operational and Tactical Plans. During the operational phase of the DNC, Featherstone was assigned as the Metro Area Command Plans Chief.
In 2004, Mr. Featherstone was transferred to the LAFD’s Tactical Training Section. As the section’s Tactical Training Officer he oversaw all WMD and catastrophic event training, simulations and exercises. Over the course of three years, he developed and led numerous Homeland Security exercise and evaluation efforts in Greater Los Angeles.
In early 2006, Mr. Featherstone was appointed as the Interim Assistant General Manager of the Emergency Management Department for six months. During this time, he spearheaded a major reorganization of the department.
Professional studies and field experience in command and control operations have given him a solid foundation in both emergency planning and emergency incident management. As an alumnus of the National Fire Academy (NFA), Mr. Featherstone completed the NFA’s residence curriculum of Incident Management courses. He serves as an Adjunct Instructor at the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center at Texas A&M University.
Mr. Featherstone remains a member of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, IAFF, Local 112, where he served on the Executive Board, as a Negotiation Team Member for 19 years, and as Chief Negotiator for 5 years. Mr. Featherstone is also a member and past Executive Board Member of the Stentorians of Los Angeles City, which represents African Americans in the Fire Service.
THE DIVISIONS
Administrative Services Division
- Develops, prepares, and administers the annual EOF and EMD budgets.
- Handles all departmental accounting functions including procurement, accounts payable,
travel arrangements, time keeping, grant administration, and financial reporting.
- Assists EMD management in addressing labor relations issues, resolves personnel
matters, and facilitates and coordinates the hiring process.
- Serves as the liaison with county, state, federal and local non-profit agencies.
- Provides staff support for the EOB and EMC.
- Chairs the EOO Administrative/Finance Subcommittee.
Communications Division
- Serves as the Department’s centralized point of gathering and disseminating information using resources such as the Internet, Channel 35 City View, publications, mass and social media.
- Coordinates all department press conferences, press releases and special events. Develops and publishes informational materials and bulletins about emergency readiness and current or emerging crisis issues.
- Serves as the lead agency for the Information and Public Affairs Section and/or Joint Information Center when the Emergency Operations Center is activated.
- Responsible for maintaining all media contacts and responding to media requests and inquires.
- Responds to inquires for information from the public and City employees.
Community Emergency Management Division
- Works with neighborhood associations, schools, faith-based organizations and other
community groups to promote emergency management.
- Coordinates EOO community outreach programs.
- Participates in fairs, expos, and community meetings.
- Publishes and disseminates preparedness information.
- Distributes brochures and other educational material.
- Chairs the EOO Community Preparedness Subcommittee.
Operations
Division
EOC Facilities Unit
The Operations Division is responsible for EOC readiness, emergency planning, and training and exercise programs. It is also responsible for ensuring the operational readiness of the City's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and alternate EOCs. This includes:
- Coordinating EOC activations.
- Staffing, training, securing access, managing information, and maintaining
communications systems for all EOC and alternate EOC facilities and Department Operations Centers (DOCs).
- Coordinates EOO community outreach programs.
- Chairing the EOO Operations Subcommittee.
Planning
Unit
- Leads in the development of citywide emergency plans.
- Revises and distributes the Emergency Operations Master Plan and Master Plan
Procedures and Annexes.
- Updates and disseminates guidelines for the emergency response and recovery plans.
- Reviews and tests departmental emergency plans to ensure City departments and their
employees are ready to fulfill their respective emergency missions.
- Prepares the General Manager's annual report on the state of the City's Emergency
Management for review by the Emergency Operations Board, Mayor and City Council.
- Monitors federal, state and local government emergency plans.
- Chairs the EOO Planning Subcommittee.
To access
more information regarding emergency planning, visit here
Training & Exercise Unit
- Provides emergency preparedness training for City employees.
- Coordinates citywide emergency management training programs, including maintenance
of the City Master Plan Training Annex and tracking EOO-funded training activities.
- Develops citywide emergency management exercises for the EOO.
- Chairs the EOO Training Subcommittee.
For
more information on EMD programs and activities, call 213-978-2222
or send us on e-mail at emd.emdweb@lacity.org
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