Alameda County Public Health Department
Public Health Emergency Preparedness
What is the Community-Based Organization Preparedness and Response Network?
Our Network connects organizations in Alameda County and their people (employees, volunteers, and individuals they provide services for) with emergency preparedness and planning resources, emergency alerts, and free or low-cost training opportunities in our community. We will support your organization in the following ways:
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Offering free, special organizational planning and resources to help your organization return to operating after an emergency or disaster (even in a limited capacity), including strengthening of emergency plans and providing sample plans, tools, and resources.
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Providing communications, for example voluntary inclusion in emergency notification systems), and information/resources through government processes during and after an emergency or disaster.
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Highlighting community-based organization’s involvement if our county Emergency Operations
Center is activated, including the organization structure, process, and information flow.
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Building on existing connections and access to sharing information, supporting collaboration which aids our community in recovery and resiliency.
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Improve coordination within the county in emergency planning, response, and recovery.
 Earn ‘badges’ and rewards for attaining certain levels of preparation, training, and planning for the organization and representative who is participating in our Network.
Organizations and individuals may be impacted in multiple ways before, during, and after an emergency or disaster; our Network supports organizations and its individuals with short and long term preparedness and status updates.
What is the goal of the Network?
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To provide information, networking, advanced learning opportunities, voluntary notification, possible resources within the normal request process in event of an emergency or disaster, and opportunities to community-based organizations in Alameda County.
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Improve organizational preparedness and planning for emergencies or disasters, including individuals it provides services for.
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Increase accuracy, timeliness, and sharing of information with government during and after an emergency or disaster (voluntary).
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Increase collaboration of community-based organizations with government to assist in response and recovery of our community (voluntary).
Who is the Network for?
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We invite any community-based organization in Alameda County to participate; it is open and voluntary.
We welcome new organizations any time, particularly those providing services for individuals who are very dependent on the healthcare system:
 older adults
 individuals with functional and access needs
 individuals that are homebound
 individuals that are non-ambulatory (in bed, or need assistance to walk)
 individuals that need assistance meeting daily needs
 individuals who, if left unattended for 24-48 hours would need assistance after an emergency or disaster
How do I join the Network?
We’ve tried to make the process to join our Network fast and simple:
1.
Open Alameda County Public Health Department’s web page: www.acphd.org/phep
2.
Complete online form ‘Community-Based Organization Network”
3.
Click on ‘Submit’
What is the Vision of the Network?
To inform (regarding emergency planning and preparedness) and collaborate with the goals of preserving of life, ensuring the continuum of community-based organizations during and after an emergency or disaster, use inclusion in emergency notifications and access to resources to benefit organizations, and reduce reliance on hospitals for non-emergency needs.
What is the background of the Network?
Our network is a voluntary multidisciplinary, multi-agency group created to support organizations in their emergency preparedness and planning efforts and provide information resources for emergency preparedness related to emergencies or disasters. The primary role is to provide for communication and leverage collaboration among the participating agencies in these activities.
How will the Network function in an Emergency?
In the event of a declared emergency or disaster, effort will be made to contact community-based organizations within the Network that have opted in to provide information about how to respond to the emergency, information regarding facilities or shelters and resources available to assist organizations.
What will happen once I join the Network?
As part of joining the Network, the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Network will:
 Confirm your organization’s participation with the network
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Provide your organization with ongoing information about emergency preparedness, planning, training opportunities, and resources.
How will my organization’s information be used?
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If you approve of providing this information, the community-based organization network will be useful for the Alameda County Public Health Department in collecting and utilizing the following information:
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Provide you information about resources in your community through CARD and the County’s
Information & Referral system Eden I&R Inc./211 Alameda County
 Level of preparedness of the organization’s operations
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Populations (community members) whom organizations provide services for
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Status updates on the individuals of the community they provide services for
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Impact to community-based organizations in the event of a disaster or emergency
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General information about organizations in the Network will be combined to get an overall picture of needs for emergency planning and disaster services o Permits Alameda County to develop a more effective response to an emergency or disaster o Includes developing policies and procedures and additional disaster plans to address community needs in relation to an emergency or disaster o Helps to avoid duplication of efforts and resources
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Information may be entered into computer-based maps o Develop maps of Alameda County Community-Based Organizations who have joined our
Network that will be provided to emergency managers and responders
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Organization information will only be released in an emergency or disaster to human services agencies, authorized emergency responders, emergency managers and planners as needed to respond
Why may I be contacted if I’m in the Network?
You may be contacted for the following reasons:
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To receive emergency preparedness information
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For emergency planning purposes
In the event of an emergency or disaster
Being part of the Network does not guarantee assistance, preferential treatment, special services, or resources in an emergency or disaster.
The Network will, however, provide essential information for public health and partner emergency managers to plan ahead for the needs identified through the network.
Who maintains, administers and will be able to access the information provided to the Network?
The Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) staff (who receive the organization’s information) and
CARD (Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disaster) are responsible for the administration of the network and computer-based maps. Paper copies will be kept secure in the PHEP office.
How and when does our organization update our information?
To encourage accuracy and efficiency before, during, and after a disaster, we encourage organizations to update their information when contact information or a designated person in the Network changes. We will remove your information from the network if you request we do so.
Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
You may call Public Health Emergency Preparedness staff at (510) 268-2557.
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