City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 19, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: FELIPE HERNANDEZ, FIRE/EMS CHIEF
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of the 2025 City of Alexandria Emergency Operations Plan.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of the 2025 City of Alexandria Emergency Operations Plan.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council approve and adopt the 2025 City of Alexandria Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
BACKGROUND: The 2025 City of Alexandria Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) represents the effort of a host of stakeholders, including departments with roles in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, and external partners that support the City during emergencies and major disasters, such as the American Red Cross (ARC) and Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS). The plan being presented for approval, which is required every four years per State and City code, was revised through a collaborative process led by the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEM).
DISCUSSION: The City of Alexandria EOP codifies the program organization and the roles and responsibilities of City Departments and other stakeholders in the event of an emergency or major disaster.
To facilitate effective operations, this EOP adopts an organizational structure that groups City departments and non-governmental partners into functional areas that typically need to be addressed during an emergency or disaster. These functional areas are called Emergency Support Functions (ESFs). Each ESF is led by a “Primary Agency,” which is a City department or office that has been so designated based on its authorities, resources, and capabilities in the functional area. The EOP also includes Support Annexes (SAs), which describe the framework through which City departments, private-sector, not-for-profit and volunteer organizations, and other non-governmental organizations coordinate to provide assistance during emergencies and major disasters.
The 2025 EOP update includes the following major changes since it was last revised:
• Incorporates the Federal Emergency Management Agency Community Lifelines construct to assist with framing impacts and guiding response operations and recovery priorities. Community Lifelines are the most fundamental community services that, when stabilized, enable all other aspects of our society to function.
• The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) was designated the Primary Agency for ESF # 6 - Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Temporary Housing, & Human Services, and the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities (RPCA) was designated a Support Agency. This change was made to better align each department’s role with its core mission and capabilities.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: City of Alexandria Emergency Operations Plan Executive Summary
Attachment 2: City of Alexandria Emergency Operations Plan 2025
Attachment 3: Presentation
STAFF:
Yon Lambert, Deputy City Manager
Marc Barbiere, Emergency Management Coordinator