John Cornell is Lafayette's Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

LAFAYETTE, CALIF. / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 30, 2024 / Lafayette, Calif. -- John Cornell has worked for the City of Lafayette for 10 years and is currently the City’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, assigned to the Police Department.

Cornell oversees the planning and coordination of emergency preparedness projects within the City of Lafayette and the coordination with other agencies, including neighboring cities. Projects include overseeing the installation of the multi-county wildfire camera system, creating redundant communications for both law enforcement and fire, enhancing school emergency preparedness, and more. 

In addition, John is in charge of the Emergency Operation Center (EOC), as well as being a liaison with groups like the City’s Emergency Preparedness Commission, the Lamorinda CERT Foundation, and the Lamorinda HAM radio club. This year, John served on a City team which partnered with Con Fire to clear brush along some of the City’s major evacuation routes.  

He also interfaces with agencies around the Bay Area to help coordinate and prepare for large events or critical incidents. This includes being on the CAL OES tactical communications team which is called on to assist throughout the state. Cornell serves as a team leader on the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office drone team, which provides drone support for law enforcement throughout the county.

Asked why he wanted to work for the City, Cornell says, “I grew up in Lafayette and was fortunate enough to form relationships with some of the officers. I feel fortunate to be able to improve the safety and preparedness of the community I was raised in.

A typical day begins around 8:00 a.m. when he responds to emails and schedules meetings between 8 and noon. After lunch, he spends time on projects in the field: climbing antenna towers, repairing communications equipment, working on improving the downtown camera network, training with the drone team, attending volunteer meetings, teaching at Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes, and performing equipment maintenance.

“What excites me the most about being part of the team at the City of Lafayette is its small size combined with big ambitions. It's incredibly rewarding to work towards achieving these lofty goals. The City prioritizes serving the people of Lafayette and fosters a collaborative environment that encourages working with external organizations to produce exceptional results,” said Cornell.

Reach John Cornell via email. See more about the Police Department and read Emergency Preparedness Tips.