Disaster Council

The San Francisco Disaster Council serves as an advisory body to the Mayor on emergency preparedness and disaster planning. The Disaster Council reviews emergency plans, provides feedback, and considers recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on other measures to support the City's emergency management program.

The Department of Emergency Management serves as the Council's executive secretary, coordinates Council meetings, and provides administrative and technical support to the Council.

In 2026, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted legislation implementing recommendations of the Commission Streamlining Task Force to modernize the Disaster Council's structure and operations. The ordinance formally established the Disaster Council as an advisory body, updated its membership, clarified its responsibilities and quorum requirements, authorized the creation of subcommittees, and provided greater flexibility to engage representatives from community, business, labor, veterans, professional, and other organizations in its work. These changes are intended to better align the Council with current emergency management practices while strengthening coordination across City government and the broader community. These changes were enacted through Ordinance No. 99-26 (File No. 260217).