Role of CaliforniaVolunteers During a Disaster
Role of CaliforniaVolunteers During a Disaster
By executive order S-02-08, Governor Schwarzenegger charged CaliforniaVolunteers with ensuring the coordination of volunteer activities related to disaster response and recovery, including necessary training, equipment, and transportation provisions.
In partnership with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and other state and local emergency management organizations, CaliforniaVolunteers works to strengthen the state’s readiness for and ability to respond to large-scale disasters.
Volunteering During a Disaster
When a major disaster occurs in California, information will be posted here on how you can help.
If you are not already trained and pre-registered, but you have special skills that can assist an ongoing relief and recovery operation, contact your local volunteer center. Contact information can be found here.
Be sure to find out where and when you will be needed, how to dress appropriately and what supplies you will need to bring. This may include food, water and personal protective equipment. Keep in mind that during a disaster first responders and disaster relief organizations may be working at capacity and an unexpected arrival of hundreds of volunteers may negatively impact their relief and recovery efforts. During a disaster, do not self-deploy to a disaster site unless specifically requested to do so by a qualified emergency response organization.
Donating During a Disaster
To assist in disaster relief and recovery efforts immediately following a disaster, CaliforniaVolunteers will set up a donations page here to accept monetary donations.
If you are interested in donating, you will have the opportunity to donate directly to the CaliforniaVolunteers Disaster Donations Account via check or PayPal, or have the option to donate to various 501(C)(3) organizations that actively accept donations during and following a disaster.
During a disaster, all donation information posted about 501(C)(3) organizations is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute a request by the State of California, the Governor or First Lady for donations to any particular organization.
CaliforniaVolunteers strongly encourages potential volunteers or donors to investigate unfamiliar organizations before donating money, goods or services.
If you are a company or an organization with access to large volumes of items and would like to make in-kind donations at any time, please click on the PRODUCT DONATIONS tab on California's AidMatrix Network.
