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Golden Guardian

First implemented by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004, Golden Guardian, California’s Annual Statewide Exercise Series, has become the most comprehensive state-level exercise series program in the country. The goal of Golden Guardian is to exercise and assess emergency operations plans, policies, and procedures for all-hazards/catastrophic incidents at the local, regional, and state levels.
Golden Guardian Archives

Golden Guardian 2013: Catastrophic Earthquake (Bay Area)

​The Golden Guardian 2013 Exercise Series theme is a major earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area. A functional exercise will take place on May 15, 2013, and will involve participation from Operational Areas in the Coastal Region, tribes, state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations and private sector partners. Golden Guardian 2013 will allow the State of California, FEMA Region IX, and the Operational Areas an opportunity to evaluate the California Catastrophic Incident Plan: Concept of Operations as well as the San Francisco Bay Area Earthquake Readiness Response: Concept of Operations Plan. These plans were developed and approved by FEMA Region IX and Cal EMA as a result of Golden Guardian 2008.

Cal EMA Draft Objectives:
  • Assess responding to a coastal region incident through the new SOC/REOC configuration
  • Exercise EMMA procedures
  • Exercise interface of UASI/Bay Area regional plans and State/Federal plans:  CA Catastrophic Incident Base Plan:  Concept of Operations, and the San Francisco Bay Area Earthquake Response:  Concept of Operations Plan
  • Exercise the new Emergency Management Information System
  • Validate State Operations Center position training
  • Discuss Recovery Issues
  • Exercise joint State/Federal Emergency Function/Emergency Support Function Joint Action Planning
  • Discuss Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) and how it integrates into existing response plans above


Golden Guardian 2013 Contacts

Kevin Leisher - Lead Planner
kevin.leisher@calema.ca.gov Desk: 916-845-8557

Tom Tornell - Operations Chief: San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano
thomas.tornell@calema.ca.gov Desk: 916-826-8090

Ramon Barboa - Operations: Monterey, Santa Clara, San Mateo
ramon.barboa@calema.ca.gov Desk: 916-845-8597

Sharon Avery - Operations: State and Federal Agencies Liaison
sharon.avery@calema.ca.gov Desk: 916-845-8489

Holly Powers - Plans Chief
holly.powers@calema.ca.gov Desk: 916-845-8494

Norris Cowles - Logistics Chief
norris.cowles@calema.ca.gov  Desk: 916-845-8509

 

​Future Golden Guardian Themes
Golden Guardian 2014: Cascadia Earthquake and Tsunami

Golden Guardian 2015: Catastrophic Flood- Southern California 

Golden Guardian 2016: Terrorism: Animal Disease Outbreak (Proposed) - Inland Region

Golden Guardian 2017: Cyber Attack - State Government (Proposed)

GG13 Build-up Exercise Overview

​Bay Area Catastrophic Plan Seminars
August 2, 2012 - State and Federal Agencies
November 7, 2012 - Regional
  • Brief participants on the San Francisco Bay Area region plans
  • Identify any issues for future discussion in Mass Care, Transportation, and Recovery

​Transportation Tabletop Exercise
December 12, 2012

  • Discuss the Transportation Functional Plan of the RECP
  • Detour/lifeline routes
  • Review preparedness plans with districts
  • Repair of utilities along highways
  • Conduct bridge functionality assessments

Mass Care Tabletop Exercise
March 13, 2013

  • Discuss the Mass Care Functional Plan of the RECP
  • Evacuation issues
  • Initial action for the first 48-hours of the incident
  • How do we bring resources into the impacted area?
  • Logistics coordination
  • Discuss emergency issues relating to people with access and functional needs

Joint Action Planning Workshop
April 10, 2013

  • Coordinate joint action planning between the State Emergency Functions and Federal Emergency Support Functions  
  • Develop action planning forms to be used for the Full-Scale Exercise on May 15 

Recovery Tabletop Exercise
June 2013

  • Discuss Recovery issues from the RECP
  • Transition from response to recovery
  • Long-term sheltering
  • Potable Water
  • Communications
  • Reimbursable costs
  • Insurance issues