Disaster Preparedness

WHEN IT HAPPENS HERE

The flood- and wildfire-prone city of Santa Barbara, California sits between mountains and ocean, along an earthquake fault, with a single major highway connecting it to cities north and south.

In 2005, a massive mudslide closed this highway to the south, cutting the region off from significant resources.

Of course we cannot prevent many disasters, but research has shown that a one-dollar investment in preparedness is equal to seven dollars in post-disaster reaction. As the Orfalea Fund has always prioritized prevention over intervention, we conducted further research on disaster readiness.

This led to a unique public/private partnership among the Orfalea Fund, global consulting firm James Lee Witt Associates, and the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management. Changing a culture of entrenched bureaucracies and competing interests to one of increased effectiveness and efficiency would require, after all, the cultivation of strong relationships and organizational partnerships at the deepest levels: a system-wide commitment of all parties to the common good.

Today, more than 45 organizations and community leaders meet regularly under the County’s Aware & Prepare Initiative to identify priorities, implement programs, and stay ready.

Aware & Prepare PROJECT BRIEFINGS

      Orfalea Fund Disaster Preparedness

 

  • $8,100,000 Invested
  • 423,000 Residents
  • $19 per resident

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY NOW HAS A STATE-OF-THE-ART EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS THAT MAKES EVERYONE SAFER.