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9A LEAGUE JOINS GOVERNOR'S HEAT RESPONSE TASK FORCE Page 10 Beware - it is going to get hot again - and is different. While one may know that tempera- that's the real heat, not the metaphor for what tures will rise above 100 degrees, it is difficult to happens when the Legislature returns August 7 for gauge the how long the high temperatures will last, its month-long sprint to adjournment. According to making it difficult to determine whether to contact weather experts, another heat emergency is at-risk residents or open cooling centers. anticipated to hit California in ten days to two weeks. During the last month's heat emergency, California's electricity grid generally was in good This week the Governor formed a special task shape, with sufficient power available to meet the force to assist the state better respond to future high demand for air conditioning. However, be- heat emergencies. The League will be a member cause the system was operating at such usually of the task force. Other governmental participants high levels, some components failed, resulting in include: California State Association of Counties, localized power outages. County Welfare Directors Association of Califor- nia, California Conference of Local Health Offic- The League will work closely with the Adminis- ers, County Health Executives Association of tration to ensure that exchange of information California, Regional Council of Rural Counties, between cities and appropriate state agencies or California Association of Public Authorities, Urban other organizations runs smoothly. In the next few Counties Caucus, American Red Cross, Califor- days, we will send an email request to cities to nia State Sheriffs' Association California, Police provide information on the availability of cooling Chiefs Association and California Fire Chiefs centers to be added to the list of such centers Association. maintained by the State Office of Emergency Services and county OES offices. The task force will be co-chaired by the State Office of Emergency Services and the Health and What Cities Can Do. Cities are encouraged Human Services Agency, and will include repre- to take the following steps to be prepared for the sentatives from the following state agencies: next heat emergency. Labor, Food and Ag, Resources, State and Con- sumer Services and the Governor's Office. The 1. Be ready to implement energy conservation Heat Response Task Force held its first meeting strategies in city facilities to reduce the strain on Friday morning, August 4, in the Governor's the state's electricity grid, if an energy alert is conference room. given. Group Prepares for Next Heat Wave. 2. Know where cooling centers are located in Earlier this week, Governor's office convened a your city - either those operated by the city, the meeting of key state agency representatives and county, non-profit or community based organiza- local government representatives to discuss how tions, or state agencies. to best respond to the next heat emergency. Not only was the meeting a good opportunity to evalu- 3. Make sure your police and fire departments ate the response to the last emergency, but to and other public safety personnel have established learn from mistakes and successes so that the a protocol for heat emergencies, including close response the next heat emergency will be better. coordination with the County OES system. While state, local and other agencies have 4. Identify one or two points of contact within excellent protocols in place to respond to flood, your city to receive and disseminate weather and fire, earthquake and other "typical" emergencies, utility status information. planning for and responding to a heat emergency Continued on Page 11 PAGE 10 . PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Website..www.caclties.org August 4, 2006 . Issue #31 -