DISASTER EMERGENCY COORDINATOR

Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

Disaster Services is responsible for the overall emergency preparedness program. This division encompasses two broad responsibilities:

Departmental preparedness
Countywide mental health preparedness

Disaster Services coordinates the development of emergency plans within the Department and coordinates with other departments and the community to ensure completeness and compatibility. This division writes plans and implements policies, procedures and training programs to implement disaster preparedness plans at the County and State level. This person works closely with the Executive Leadership in the Department and chairs and oversees the Department Operations Center (DOC) Leadership team. The DOC team is the emergency response team that coordinates the full Departmental response to a disaster. This team consists of Deputy’s, District Chiefs, Program Heads, and other management level staff. The division has authority to oversee funds expended for emergency operations and approves requests for facility equipment.

The Disaster Services division is a member of the Emergency Management Council Subcommittee that provides staff support to the 9 lead Departments who write, plan and implement emergency plans for the County of Los Angeles. Disaster Services is the formal liaison to the County Office of Emergency Management on matters pertaining to department and countywide emergency preparedness, response, and recovery from a major emergency. This function provides the long range plans for the department-wide emergency preparedness program and is expected to provide recommendations for changes in program policies as necessary. This division speaks to the media on behalf of the Department. Disaster Services is also a member of the Terrorism Early Warning Group (TEW) and interfaces with the Fire Department and Law Enforcement.

Disaster Services ensures the following: the Department has a functional emergency plan, the Departmental Emergency Plans are updated annually, and the executive and management staff are trained in their emergency/recovery responsibilities and engage in regular emergency training exercises, costs are identified with emergency preparedness needs. This Division has developed and oversees the DMH disaster dispatch system. In a major disaster this division recommends the appropriate response level for the Department and keeps Executive level staff informed of disaster activities.

Disaster Services has knowledge of the local, State & Federal licensing, codes and regulations regarding mental emergency response. This division entails consulting with key departmental, city, county state, federal and local governments and private agencies following a major disaster. This division begins the application procedure for emergency grants. Disaster Services is a lead member of the team that develops, writes and implements the FEMA funded crisis-counseling grants, victim assistance grants including budgetary, fiscal, and legislation activities and provides for the staffing as necessary per the grants. Knowledge of FEMA crisis counseling rules for reimbursement is essential to avoid audit exceptions. Disaster Services entails design, implementation, and training of countywide needs assessments for disaster preparedness issues. Disaster Services receives direct requests from the Board of Supervisors and is expected to resolve all such requests.

Disaster Services is also responsible for all of the Building Emergency Plans (BEP). Ensures that Building Emergency Plans are written, reviewed, approved and updated annually. This function includes developing all guidelines, reporting procedures to this Department and outside Departments such as the CAO and ISD. The following is an example of job duties that are completed by this division:

BEC – train and direct in emergency operations. The BECs are at District Chief or Program Head level
44 Building Emergency Plans (BEPs) - reviews, evaluates and approves each plan submitted by Program Heads and District Chiefs
44 Telephone Trees - track & maintain
Fire Dept - liaison
CAFR - meet accreditation requirements
Training - 44 managers & facility staff
Maintain Emergency contacts - after hours, building closures, etc.
Renewed emphasis on BEC security…more work
Radios
Maintain rosters
Complete reports
Equipment - tracking, repairs
Equipment - Regular Training
Identify staff
Checklist – development of the countywide emergency response checklist for key emergency response jobs
Drills – track and monitor to ensure that the 44 facilities are completing their quarterly drills
Equipment – recommends purchase of equipment for emergency response

Training is a critical component of this job. The division provides a series of training to DMH and contractor staff as listed below:

Disaster 101
Field Safety
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Disaster Preparedness training at each clinic

Further, this division participates as a Countywide Liaison to other Departments, represents the department at meetings and is a member of the following countywide committees:

HRSA - Health Resources and Services Administration Advisory Board
Coroner / Liaison - all activities associated with the Coroner’s Office Includes Development of the County wide- Mass Fatality Plan
Victims and Witness/Office of Victims Witness vision, which included - coordination of a 911 event, developed program and grant applications as well as coordinated with the State
Emergency Management Council Subcommittee
Bio Terrorism Advisory Board – quarterly meetings
CMHDA – Statewide Chair of the Emergency Preparedness Committee – develops policies and procedures statewide. Chairs monthly conference calls and quarterly meetings
Los Angeles City Emergency Operations Committee
Joint Los Angeles City & Los Angeles County Emergency Management Conference Committee – meets quarterly and develops policies and procedures for the City and County
Recovery & Reconstruction Task Force
CIWIRS - Countywide task force, responsible for the CWIRS in this Department, oversees the budget, approves purchases, tracts and monitors drills and repairs.
Emergency Preparedness Schools Committee - Office of Education Services
County Office of Education- Safe Schools Advisory Board
ENLA - Emergency Network Los Angeles
American Red Cross – Liaison
Office of Emergency Management - Member of the Joint County/City Task Force for the countywide emergency planning
Southern California Disaster Coordinator Host County
Disaster Assistance Response Team Committee
Public Information Task Force
PMRT Supervisors Meeting
Operational Area Advisory Board – Terrorism Early Warning group Building
OD Coverage for 550 Vermont – oversees a team that works on Fridays to provide services to homeless who walk into Headquarters