The Aware & Prepare Initiative is a public-private partnership to enhance the capabilities of non-profit organizations and government agencies to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters within the Santa Barbara County
Operational Area.

Since 2008, a public-private partnership was initiated and has evolved between the Orfalea Foundation and the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, supported by a collaborative of local foundations, as well as the technical expertise and guidance of Witt Associates.  The Aware & Prepare Initiative:  A Community Partnership to Strengthen Emergency & Disaster Readiness is now the leading public education campaign and outreach effort for the Operational Area in coordination with the Santa Barbara County Emergency Managers Committee (EMC) and the Santa Barbara County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (SBC VOAD).

Aware & Prepare has focused its efforts exclusively within the Santa Barbara County Operational Area, which includes eight major jurisdictions (Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, Solvang, Buellton, Santa Maria and Guadalupe) as well as the unincorporated areas and special districts. 

Key Accomplishments

The Aware & Prepare Initiative focused on a few priority areas towards enhancing the capabilities of our community. A few of the key projects that have been addressed are listed below.

1. Public Education & Awareness

Strategies and capabilities to help the general public become better prepared for a disaster, including programs that specifically target vulnerable populations (including the disabled, elderly, and non-English speaking populations) and focus on all-hazards emergencies.

Various jurisdictions developed their own public education programs to address emergency readiness with key constituencies in their city. Those programs include the City of Caprinteria’s Don’t Panic Prepare, City of Goleta’s Goleta Prepare Now, Santa Ynez Valley’s Community Emergency Preparedness Program, City of Santa Maria’s Aware & Prepare -Ready Program. In learning the best practices of each of these programs the Santa Barbara County Operational Area has incorporated them and adopted Aware & Prepare as the name for the public education and awareness program for Santa  Barbara County. This effort has kicked off with a series of Public Service announcements that are being aired on radio and television.

2. Preparedness (Governmental and Non-Governmental)

Strategies and capabilities to develop an active and inclusive planning process as well as training and exercise program in the community, including quality control, continuous improvement, and feedback mechanisms.

One of the largest undertakings was enhancing the capabilities of nonprofit organizations in Santa Barbara County to be prepared for disasters and further collaborate with each other as well as the government sector. The following local organizations have been provided with resources to enhance their capabilities to play a role in a disaster situation: Direct Relief International, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, Santa Barbara County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Sansum Clinics, Unity Shoppe Inc., Community Action Commission, Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club, California Southern Baptist Convention.

3. Emergency Public Information

Strategies and capabilities (including information technology and equipment) to warn the public of an impending disaster and to provide emergency instructions on suggested actions.

One key program is Radio Ready, which is a partnership between a collective of radio stations and the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management to enhance the provision of accurate and timely information during a disaster. Each radio station was equipped with back-up electrical power, and satellite phones to be able to communicate with the Emergency Operations Center.

4. Volunteers

Continued development of an active VOAD organization made up of non-governmental agencies in partnership with local government to improve coordination and capabilities in disaster preparedness and response, as well as a planned and coordinated system for integrating congregate volunteers and disaster service workers (DSWs) during all phases of emergencies and disasters.

Key projects under this theme include the Re-Initiating of the Santa Barbara County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, further development of the Medical Reserve Corps program, including training, volunteer corps and collaboration with key stakeholders in emergency readiness and working with various jurisdictional programs and county agencies to further implement CERT at a coordinated level for the county. As a result there was a County CERT committee established that is now guiding CERT efforts in Santa Barbara County.

5. Authority, Management and Operational Area Coordination

Strategies and capabilities to develop strong relationships within the community, and specifically between the local government and non-governmental and non-for-profit organizations. Facilities (including the Emergency Operations Center) and capabilities for community leadership to provide command, control and coordination of disaster response activities.

One key project under this theme is the prioritization and significant contribution towards the approval and construction of a designated county Emergency Operations Center.

6. Resources and Personnel

Strategies and capabilities to develop caches of disaster supplies, lists of capabilities and skills of organizations and responders, as well as knowing who has what and the capability to move resources (people and supplies) to where they are needed.

Various nonprofit organizations and government agencies, including Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club, Santa Barbara County Animal Services, American Red Cross, and California Southern Baptist, were supported to obtain critical resources including trailers, equipment, back-up electrical power and staffing to enhance key programs.