DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS (DSW)
As a family member of a City of Pasadena employee, it is important that you are aware that the City Charter, Title 2, Chapter 370 declares that all City employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers (DSW) during natural or manmade disasters. Therefore, employees have to stay at or come to work before, during, and after a disaster. All City of Pasadena employees in every department may be needed in the response and recovery efforts of the City. The purpose of this brochure is to educate families on how to take care of themselves during a disaster and to explain the role and responsibilities of City employees as DSWs.
PRIOR TO A DISASTER:
It is important that family members of City employees prepare and understand how to take care of themselves after a disaster so that the City employee can report to work. • Discuss your Family Emergency Plan: ■ Identify: family meeting locations, who picks up children from school, your out- of-state contact person. ■ Know how and when to turn off utilities such as gas and water. • Have a 3-day Family Emergency Supply Kit at home and a To-Go kit in all cars: ■ Include: 1-2 gallons of water per person per day, food, clothes, cash, first aid, personal hygiene items, radio, flashlights, medications, pet care, sanitation supplies, tools, and any special needs items. ■ Keep at least half a tank of gas in your EMPLOYEE DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS car at all times. What families should know about IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A DISASTER: City of Pasadena employees as Disaster Service Workers (DSW) If a disaster occurs during normal working hours: • All City employees will remain at work to provide for disaster relief as needed. City of Pasadena Avenue 100 North Garfield 91101 CA Pasadena, • Any City employee who leaves without authorization will be subject to disciplinary action. DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS (DSW)
As a family member of a City of Pasadena employee, it is important that you are aware that the City Charter, Title 2, Chapter 370 declares that all City employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers (DSW) during natural or manmade disasters. Therefore, employees have to stay at or come to work before, during, and after a disaster. All City of Pasadena employees in every department may be needed in the response and recovery efforts of the City. The purpose of this brochure is to educate families on how to take care of themselves during a disaster and to explain the role and responsibilities of City employees as DSWs.
PRIOR TO A DISASTER:
It is important that family members of City employees prepare and understand how to take care of themselves after a disaster so that the City employee can report to work. • Discuss your Family Emergency Plan: ■ Identify: family meeting locations, who picks up children from school, your out- of-state contact person. ■ Know how and when to turn off utilities such as gas and water. • Have a 3-day Family Emergency Supply Kit at home and a To-Go kit in all cars: ■ Include: 1-2 gallons of water per person per day, food, clothes, cash, first aid, personal hygiene items, radio, flashlights, medications, pet care, sanitation supplies, tools, and any special needs items. ■ Keep at least half a tank of gas in your EMPLOYEE DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS car at all times. What families should know about IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A DISASTER: City of Pasadena employees as Disaster Service Workers (DSW) If a disaster occurs during normal working hours: • All City employees will remain at work to provide for disaster relief as needed. City of Pasadena 100 North Garfield Avenue CA 91101 Pasadena, • Any City employee who leaves without authorization will be subject to disciplinary action. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A DISASTER: RADIO STATIONS: SIGNS OF STRESS:
If a disaster occurs outside normal working hours: It is critical that families have a battery/solar/ crank DSWs are required to work long, demanding powered radio to receive vital information shifts that can result in stress. Family members may • All City employees in public safety operations during a disaster, especially if phones do not work. For notice the following signs of stress in their loved one, must respond according to established up to the minute information tune to: including: emergency response procedures for their departments. KFI 640 AM KFWB 980 FM • Strong emotions such as: anxiety, fear, grief, KNX 1070 AM KRLA 870 AM guilt, self-doubt, irritability, anger, resentment • All non-public safety employees will report to KHTS 1220 AM KVTA 1520 AM work in accordance with their department • Increased use of alcohol or drugs reporting procedures unless informed through • the City’s emergency call-in system, Mass MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM: Feeling overwhelmed or depressed Notification, media, or Emergency Alert System • Anticipation of harm to self or others; social that non-essential employees are not required The City launched a Mass Notification System that withdrawal to report to work. will alert employees of current emergency information. The Mass Notification System can also inform registered • Decision making difficulties • All City employees have an obligation to out-of-state contacts that employees and family mem- • attempt to and to continue contacting their bers are safe. For the Mass Notification System to be Fatigue, nausea, fine motor tremors, profuse department or employee emergency call-in useful, employees must keep their data up-to-date. sweating numbers to determine whether it is necessary • to report to work. Relationship problems BRINGING FAMILIES TO THE CITY: • Job/school-related problems EMPLOYEE EMERGENCY CALL-IN NUMBERS: The City recognizes that after a disaster there may • Decreased libido/sexual interest be a need for employees to bring their families or pets to • The Employee Emergency Call-in Number below the City when reporting to work. An example would be if Appetite change will also serve as a hotline where family members can your family’s home is destroyed or when employees call during a disaster for information or to leave have no one to take care of their children. It has always WHEN TO SEEK HELP: messages for their loved one. The number is as follows: been the intention of the City to provide employee family 1-800-969-2757 and pet care for immediate family members and pets in Remember, stress is a normal reaction to abnor- need if they have nowhere else to stay and as a last mal situations like disasters. If you or a family mem- Each employee also has an emergency call-in resort. Keep in mind that family care should be limited to ber experiences the following signs of number for their own department, which is located on those employees who are unable to care for their families persistent/severe stress, seek help from a licensed the back of their photo ID card. This number instructs at home or who do not have an alternative. mental health the employee on whether to report to work following a professional. disaster or what other action, if any, to take. WHAT TO BRING: • Disorientation, depression, anxiety Local phone lines may be down during disasters. Therefore all family members should call the pre- Remember when bringing families or pets to the • Acute psychiatric symptoms identified out-of-state contact to verify the location City bring enough disaster supplies for three days for • Inability to care for self and status of all family members. Should anything each person and including pet and family disaster supply happen to a City employee, family would be notified kits. Kits should include extra clothing/shoes, sleeping • Suicidal or homicidal thoughts as soon as possible. The City has the capability to take gear, food, water, medications, personal supplies and care of injuries/illnesses should they occur at work. toiletries. • Problematic use of alcohol or drugs • Domestic violence and abuse Employee Assistance Program 1-800-777-9376
For more information call Human Resources at (626) 744-4366