Disaster Service Workers

• By State Law and City Ordinance, all City and County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers ("DSWs").
• This means when the Mayor declares a citywide emergency, City employees may be required to serve as DSWs in support of the City's response and recovery efforts.
• When you receive a notice to report to an assignment as a DSW, you are required by law to report and serve. 
• In a citywide emergency, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will activate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), a physical or virtual hub where City departments and partner agencies coordinate the city's emergency response activities. 
• If the city determines that DSWs are needed, the City of Temecula Human Resources Department (HR) will work with department supervisors to deploy needed DSWs. 
• To ensure you receive city notifications during an emergency response, please keep your emergency contact information up to date by visiting the HR Department. 

DSW Reporting Information

• If you are being deployed, HR or OEM will contact you, typically by email during working hours or telephone after normal working hours, to advise you of your assigned role and when and where to report. 
• As a DSW, you may be directed to perform duties that are difference from your regular work responsibilities, to report to a different work site, or to report at times that are difference from your normal work schedule.
• HR and OEM will make every effort to assign you to DSW roles based on the work you do every day or on special skills you possess. Some roles DSWs may be assigned to include:
  • General duties such as clerical support, damage assessment, driving, food preparation, sorting, packing, loading, or shelter operations. 
  • Specialized duties depending on skills you possess such as language translation, public outreach and communication, or driving a commercial vehicle. 
• Let your supervisor or HR know if you have special skills that you do not use in your regular position, such as language skills, CPR training, or a commercial driver's license. 
• Remember, as a DSW you will not be asked to perform any duty or function you do not know how to perform or have not received adequate training to complete. 
• For questions about the responsibilities of a DSW, please contact HR or Emergency Management
• If you have a serious health concern, childcare responsibilities, or another staff issue that would prevent you from serving as a DSW, please talk with your Supervisor and the HR Department. 

What to do in an Emergency

• Your first duty after an emergency occurs is to ensure that you and your family are safe. 
• Once you know you and your family are safe, follow the steps below:
  • If you receive a DSW Assignment Notice: Follow the reporting instructions in the notice. 
  • If you are at work: Report immediately to your assigned emergency reporting location (e.g., department staging area, emergency operations center, shelter). If you have no such assignment, report to our department supervisor for instructions.
  • If you are at home or away from work:
    • Follow the procedures for reporting to your normal work location or designated emergency reporting location. 
    • If you have not received any reporting instructions, contact your immediate supervisor for instructions.
    • If you are unable to contact your supervisor, listen to the Temecula Radio Station AM 600 to receive possible reporting instructions. 
  • When you report to work after an emergency or to a DSW assignment, bring your City Identification (ID) Card with you. 
    • You will need your ID Card to check in at your DSW work site. You may also need your ID to access emergency transportation. 
    • For your information on your City ID Card with EM Logo for DSWs, contact the Office of Emergency Management.  

DSW Training

City employees are required to take the following training to prepare to serve as a DSW:

• Individual DSW Training (issued via the LEARN Platform in NEOGOV)
  • Review the Disaster Service Worker Training Guide; and     
  • Watch the Disaster Service Worker Training Video below.