Plans
The Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management (YCOEM) actively manages and updates various emergency management plans, treating them as dynamic, "living documents" to reflect current needs and best practices. This proactive approach ensures that the plans remain relevant and effective for the county's safety and preparedness. Regular training and exercises are integral to YCOEM's strategy, ensuring that staff and associated stakeholders are well-versed in the latest procedures and can respond efficiently to any emergency scenario.
Emergency Operations Plan
The Yavapai County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is a crucial guide for managing a variety of threats, including natural, technological, and human-caused emergencies. It underpins the Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management's (YCOEM) mission to save lives, protect property, and mitigate disaster impacts through strong partnerships and effective planning. As a key Whole Community document, the EOP delineates the roles of county departments and partners, ensuring coordinated responses during emergencies while allowing for operational flexibility at the departmental level. It's essential for the county's preparedness, response, resilience, and recovery efforts, facilitating swift action in crises and promoting collaboration across government, non-profit sectors, businesses, and residents. The EOP's focus on comprehensive planning, training, and community involvement forms the basis for a resilient Yavapai County capable of managing and recovering from emergencies.
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Yavapai County, in collaboration with nine cities and towns, and the Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe, has updated the 2018 Yavapai County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan to minimize risks to life and property from natural hazards. The 2023 revision aims to enhance community safety and resilience through preventive measures, assessing natural hazards, evaluating vulnerabilities, and setting mitigation strategies. This updated plan, required every five years, maintains eligibility for federal and state mitigation funding. Approved by the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors on December 6, 2023, it has also been ratified by incorporated jurisdictions, including Prescott, Dewey-Humboldt, Chino Valley, Camp Verde, Clarkdale, and Jerome, between December 2023 and March 2024, ensuring ongoing commitment to hazard mitigation across the region.
Community Wildfire Protection Plan
The Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA), enacted on December 3, 2003, introduced Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs), key to engaging communities in wildfire prevention and strategy implementation. These plans offer benefits like customizing wildland-urban interface (WUI) boundaries, influencing fuel treatment prioritization, and enhancing public safety. CWPPs facilitate collaboration among local stakeholders—homeowners, firefighters, and land managers—to improve firefighting capabilities, create defensible spaces, and manage land across ownerships. They aim to reduce wildfire risks, protect first responders and the public, identify funding needs, and promote interagency cooperation. The initial Yavapai Communities Wildfire Protection Plan (YCWPP), created in 2004 and updated in 2005 and 2018, stemmed from Prescott Area's wildfire reduction efforts, involving 13 fire agencies and receiving updates to incorporate the latest research and collaborative efforts across Yavapai County.
Integrated Preparedness Plan
The Yavapai County Emergency Management Agency's Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP) for 2024-2026 aims to strengthen core capabilities in prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery from threats and hazards. It integrates all-hazards planning, targeted training, and exercises to improve the county's preparedness and resilience. The IPP enhances communication and coordination among state agencies, local operations, and regional partners, minimizing redundant efforts and streamlining readiness activities for a unified and efficient emergency response in Yavapai County.