Emergency Preparedness is for Everyone

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By Sarah Panfil, Senior Board Assistant, Legislative Services - Board Operations, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

Are you prepared for an emergency evacuation from your work site? What if you are an employee with mobility challenges?  Preparing for emergency evacuations is standard practice.  We have regular fire drills to practice getting everyone out of the building in the case of an emergency. From these drills, you know where to find various exits and where to meet safely outside the building. 

But what if you can’t go down the stairs with everyone else?

The County of San Diego emphasizes the importance of safety and planning for emergencies.  The County has taken standard practices one step further by researching the needs of employees with disabilities. Over the last two years a committee has developed tools to assist employees and anyone with physical limitations to plan for an emergency at work. 

These tools are now available on the County’s Intranet site. Located under Disaster Preparedness & Protocols, the link “Tips for Employees with Disabilities” takes you to the main page http://cww/BeAwareBePrepared/DisabledEvac.htm where tools and other helpful links are listed in three main sections: Helping You Make a Decision, Why and How Should I Prepare, and 7-Steps to Help You Prepare For An Emergency At Your Worksite.  In the first section, Heart To Heart is an article about realizing and communicating your requirements during an evacuation. To Drill Or Not To Drill is a video delving into the thoughts behind deciding whether or not to participate in an evacuation drill.

No one expects an emergency evacuation to occur but everyone should be prepared for one.  Whether you plan on your own or work with a support team, the plans you make can make a difference. For instance, I am fortunate that we have a plan in place at my work site and have practiced it. 

Earlier this summer, due to a fire alarm, my work site, the County Administration Center (CAC), was evacuated. I am in a wheelchair and cannot use the stairs on my own to exit.  As planned ahead, when the alarm sounded, I met with an available member of my evacuation team, quickly assessed the situation and followed the signs to the designated CAC’s Evacuation Assistance Area.  Within a few minutes, we were given permission by emergency personnel to use the elevator to exit. Then we calmly and safely left the building.  This sounds simple and easy. And it should be – if you plan ahead.  

If you do not have a plan, and everyone else is rushing down the stairs, it can be daunting to be the one left at the top of the stairs.  Make plans. During an emergency, sometimes planned exits are blocked. What if the elevator is not usable? Remain flexible so that you can work around those possibilities. We have discussed multiple exit strategies and we practice them on a regular basis. This has served us well in actual emergency events such as the evacuation earlier this month.  The plans we created can also be used to assist others who might be visiting our office when there is a call to evacuate the building.

I encourage all County employees to take the time to visit the website, review the materials, and prepare for emergencies. Be a Knowledge Worker and make a difference. By working together and planning ahead, we can reduce risks, save time and save lives.

Probation Staff Shows Commitment to Education

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Bronte Benesh (fourth from left) was awarded one of four scholarships provided by the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility Fund.

A top-performing probation officer and the children of several probation staff are closer to getting their college degrees with the help of two scholarship programs.

Probation officer Lanae Gutierrez was awarded a $2,500 Cox Heroes Scholarship as she pursues a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at National University. She is currently a senior.

Recipients of the scholarship are recognized for overcoming challenges in their pursuit of educational advancement. Gutierrez began her college career years ago as a teenage mother, but her education was sidelined when her three-year-old son was diagnosed with stage three bladder cancer. Not long after his cancer went into remission, Gutierrez’s father was killed in a boating accident.

“Despite my personal challenges, the importance of a higher education has become so critical to me that I have not allowed anything to stand in my way of this goal," said Gutierrez.

Lanae represents Probation as a program director with STAR/PAL, a nonprofit organization that brings law enforcement and youth together to provide educational, athletic and recreational programs to local youth who may not otherwise have such opportunities. She was also the recipient of Probation’s Excellence award last year, an honor give to the employee who exemplifies the department’s commitment to excellence.

The children of several Probation staff members are getting a head start on their higher education thanks to the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility Fund. It was established in 2006 to “mentor and inspire others through the vital principle of giving.” The committee that oversees the fund raised $2,000 for award academic scholarships, which were recently awarded to four high school graduates of staff at the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility.

Those awarded the stipend are: Rashawn Brock, son of Tanya Brock; Brittani Taylor, daughter of Robert Taylor; Courtney Goodwin, daughter of Clinton Goodwin; and Bronte Benesh, daughter of Marisela Benesh.

Thank you from Deferred Compensation!

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On Friday, August 6, the San Diego County Deferred Compensation Program held the 5th Annual Retirement Dreaming Fair on the west plaza of the County Administration Center. The fair was a huge success, drawing in employees from all over the County, to see 20 vendors talk about the variety of activities that help you dream about your retirement!

Everyone who attended was treated to a delicious lunch from El Indio Restaurant; winner of San Diego Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award 2009. More than 65 employees signed up to meet with representatives from Nationwide Retirement Solutions on an individual basis and receive guidance on saving for retirement. A few lucky attendees were able to walk away with one of several amazing raffle prizes including spa packages worth $850 from Mind & Body Day Spa, Padres tickets, and Family Admission Packs to the U.S.S Midway.

If you are interested in attending the next fair, mark your calendar for the first Friday of August 2011. However, you don’t have to wait until next year to start thinking about retirement. Our Nationwide Retirement Specialists are available to help you with all of your deferred compensation needs.  They will meet with you one-on-one at your office and when it is convenient for you.  To setup an appointment contact the Nationwide local office at (858) 569-0295.