Volunteer Agencies

Los Angeles County (County) is the most populous county and the disaster capital of the United States. It has a population of approximately 10 million, and has experienced devastation as a result of floods, fires, earthquakes, and civil unrest. As the County’s population climbs and businesses increase, it is apparent that volunteers are valuable assets in disaster management.

It is the County’s policy to support the use of volunteers pre-registered in the California Disaster Service Worker Volunteer Program (DSWs) in appropriate situations based on their ability to perform the required duties. Several County departments have established plans and procedures for the use of organized volunteers during major man-made or natural disasters. In the event of a major disaster these departments may implement their existing volunteer plan. County departments have the option of using disaster volunteers. If a department decides to use disaster volunteers, they will be responsible for administering their own volunteer program. All volunteers are under the control and supervision of the department that has registered them as DSWs. State guidelines require that the Emergency Management Council (EMC) approve documents signed by prospective volunteers. In Los Angeles County, this is delegated to the department using the volunteer.

The County will not coordinate convergent volunteers for the operational area (OA), but will encourage and support the use of this type of volunteer in voluntary organizations, and will attempt to partner with one or more not-for-profit agencies which will agree to coordinate the placement of volunteers. Volunteers will not replace existing department personnel, but may be used to meet the increased demands for service that can be expected following a disaster.

Convergent (spontaneous) volunteers are members of the public who come forward spontaneously during the time of a disaster or emergency event. Following a disaster, the CEOC Operation Section, Care and Shelter Branch (DPSS) will Liaison with private, not-for-profit organizations through Emergency Network Los Angeles (ENLA)/ Voluntary Agencies Active in Disasters (VOAD) agencies. Working through the CEOC Public Information Officer, and in concert with 211 of Los Angeles County, public information on convergent volunteer needs will be released using Public Service Announcements (PSA’s), telephone banks, and media links.

AUTHORITY

County policies for the use of volunteers comply with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) Disaster Services Worker Program (DSWVP) guidance and Chapter 2.68.250 of the County Code which addresses volunteers who perform service in the County Emergency Organization or the operational area.

On March 19, 1997 the Los Angeles County Emergency Management Council and the Los Angeles City Emergency Operations Board approved the following policies, recognizing the Emergency Network Los Angeles (ENLA) as the link to nonprofit organizations.

BACKGROUND

Following a disaster many critical services are provided to disaster victims by private, not-for-profit organizations. The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army are national emergency relief organizations with unquestioned qualifications and expertise. The City and County have well established post-disaster relationships with these agencies. Other not-for-profit agencies are also active in disasters and have organizational commitments to provide emergency services following disasters. Many of these organizations provide day to day services to the community and have developed high levels of proficiency within their service specialties.

Following the Northridge Earthquake, locally based not-for-profit agencies recognized the need to establish closer emergency planning and post-disaster working relationships with one another and with all levels of government. To accomplish this, a number of agencies established Emergency Network Los Angeles/Los Angeles Voluntary Agencies Active in Disasters (ENLA/LA VOAD). Some of these agencies, such as 211 LA County (formerly Info Line) and the L.A. Regional Food Bank, are affiliated with state or national organizations which have, in recent years, developed plans for disaster response. It is important for the City and County to recognize and support these emergency planning efforts.

POLICIES

1. It is the intent of both the County and City of Los Angeles to work in concert with the ENLA/LA VOAD organization to strengthen working relationships with well established not-for-profit agencies which have plans to provide services to disaster victims. City and County human services representatives will work with ENLA/LA VOAD agencies to establish the best possible public/private collaborations to provide effective services following a disaster.
2. It is the intent of the City and County not to duplicate services which can be more effectively provided through not-for-profit agencies. Examples of services provided by local agencies include Info Line’s compilation of disaster resources and operation of a general disaster hotline and the L.A. Regional Food Bank’s food distribution network of more than 700 community food distribution outlets. The City and County will support not-for-profit agency disaster activities, in ways deemed appropriate and as feasible following a disaster.
3. Following a major disaster, the City Emergency Operations Organization Sheltering Division (Recreation and Parks) and the County Care and Shelter function (DPSS) will liaison with one another and with private, not-for-profit organizations through ENLA/LA VOAD key agencies to implement the policies above.