Disaster Preparedness
When wildfires, power shutoffs, or other disasters affect you and your family, finding help can be a stressful and confusing experience. Below are links to resources to help Californians impacted by these unique challenges.
DCA Disaster Help Center
California Department of Consumer Affairs information and links to disaster-related resources.
Web: https://www.dca.ca.gov/consumers/disaster_help_center.shtml
Office of Access and Functional Needs (OAFN) under OES
The purpose of OAFN is to identify the needs of individuals with disabilities and others with access or functional needs before, during, and after disasters and to integrate them into the State’s emergency management systems.
Web: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/office-of-the- director/policy-administration/access-functional-needs/
World Health Organization (WHO)
Training for Emergencies: "Prevention and preparedness as much as in response and recovery, with an emphasis on rehabilitation"
Web: https://www.who.int/emergencies/training
California Health and Human Services Emergency Resource Guide
California Department of Health and Human Services information and links to disaster- related resources.
Web: https://www.chhs.ca.gov/blog/2023/01/04/calhhs-emergency-resource-guide/
Disability Disaster Access & Resources
County-by-county resources (Independent Living Centers)
Web: https://disabilitydisasteraccess.org/get-services/
FEMA Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs)
FEMA Preparedness Community: Get involved with a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)
Web: https://community.fema.gov/PreparednessCommunity/s/welcome-to-cert?language=en_US
California Disaster Healthcare Volunteers (state ESAR-VHP)*
California branch of US DHHS PHE’s Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals.
California Medical Reserve Corps*
Health Hubs for essential services in local communities
Web: https://www.californiahealthmrc.org/
Red Cross*
Disaster Health and Mental Health Volunteers
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Prepare California resources for community hardening, grant opportunities, COVID-19 support, cybersecurity initiatives, and finding hazards where you live.
Web: www.caloes.ca.gov
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework)
Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED)
Research database on the epidemiology of disasters.
*Occupational Therapy practitioners are not included in the lists of professionals recruited for these programs but can contact the programs for opportunities to contribute OT expertise.