Who We Are and What We Do
Kings County's Office of Emergency Services (OES) is the County's emergency management agency, responsible for coordinating multi-agency responses to complex, large-scale emergencies and disasters within Kings County. It is the responsibility of the Office of Emergency Services to develop and maintain the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), which serves as a guideline for who will do what, as well as when, with what resources, and by what authority--before, during, and immediately after an emergency. OEM provides dedicated staff responsible for managing the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and developing and implementing training and exercise programs designed to coincide with the processes and procedures within the EOP.
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The Office of Emergency Services is the conduit for information and resource coordination between the State of California and the local governments of Kings County (the Kings Operational Area), as defined in California's Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS). The Kings Operational Area includes the cities of Avenal, Corcoran, Hanford and Lemoore, as well as the political subdivisions of the County.
County Overview
Kings County: Located in central California, bordering Fresno County.
Major cities: 4 incorporated cities (Avenal, Corcoran, Handford, Lemoore), tribal government
(Tachi-Yokut Tribe), Naval Air Station Lemoore (NASL) and many unincorporated communities.
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Kings County, 1 of 8 counties compromising the San Joaquin Valley, ranks consistently in the
top 10 agricultural counties in California. Most of the county is relatively flat with over 90% of its
land devoted to agricultural uses. Historically, significant flooding has occurred approximately
every 5 years. Areas of the county that encompass some of the lowest elevations of the San
Joaquin Valley floor, may be prone to patches of dense fog. Due to its arid climate, fire hazard in
the more steeply sloped southwestern county areas is classified as extreme, however hazards
to life and property are considered minimal. The county is located 4 miles from the San Andreas
Fault and faces the potential for ground shaking. Severe weather, including extreme heat can
also present challenges to its residents.