Emergency Preparedness planning is essential to minimizing the impacts of disasters on communities and individuals. The office of emergency preparedness works closely and collaboratively with regional center emergency coordinators and other stakeholders in all planning efforts to identify emergency preparedness gaps and needs to individuals served as well as work to develop solutions to close those gaps and increase individual preparedness efforts. The Department of Developmental Services plays an active role in responding and takes a proactive approach to ensuring the health and safety of the DDS’ service system by facilitating emergency response activities and improving emergency response readiness. DDS has identified the need to develop emergency preparedness material, providing necessary training and education, securing emergency go kits and portable batteries for consumers living independently or with limited supports dependent on power for life-sustaining equipment and who live within high fire threat district areas.
The documents below are in Adobe Acrobat PDF and may require a current version of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to be correctly viewed and printed.

Workbook and Materials

The Feeling Safe, Being Safe workbook will help you make a plan that you can use in case of an emergency. The videos demonstrate how to complete the workbook and put together a home emergency kit. The printable magnet lets you post your important emergency contact information on your refrigerator for first responders. Instructions Click on any of the grey boxes below for more information about each title.  When you’re done reading or watching what is in the box, you can click on the title again. This will close the box back up. Click on the title to open the box again.
Training Handouts - Feeling Safe, Being Safe (FSBS)

Instructional Videos:

Instructional Video for FSBS Packet
Training Videos

Introduction & Materials

Being Prepared

The Emergency Worksheet

The Magnet

The Emergency Kit

Community Supports
Additional Information
  • Emergency Kit Supply List
  • Background
    • This 22-page booklet describes why and how the DDS Consumer Advisory Committee, worked for 18 months to develop Feeling Safe, Being Safe – emergency preparedness tools for a wide range of people and field-tested the tools to make sure that the materials could work for everyone.
  • Frequently Asked Questions about trainings on the emergency preparedness materials
Other Resources
  • The Department contracted and facilitated a collaborative workgroup to develop communication cards for the deaf + community to be utilize during emergency response. The goal of these communication cards is to assist with 2-way communications with shelter staff and first responders. Digital copies of these communication cards can be found here:
Active Shooter

Active Shooter
Earthquake

Earthquake
Emergency Preparedness

The California Department of Aging has developed an Emergency Preparedness Guide specifically designed to help older adults and people with disabilities prepare for emergencies to ensure they stay safe before, during, and after disasters and other emergency events.

These guides are available in English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Armenian.

Preparing for a Disaster

Video is also available in the following languages
Emergency Response Resources
Extreme Weather (Heat/Cold)

Heat:

Cold:

 
Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)

Southern California Edison (SCE) Resources

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Resources

San Diego Gas & Electric Resources
Recovery Storybooks: English | Spanish | Traditional Chinese | Korean | Vietnamese | Tagalog | Armenian This Story book is designed for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who were affected by the wildfires in California. However, it can be helpful to anyone. It uses strategies drawn from evidence-based interventions for trauma care. It is written in plain language to give words to what happened and what people are experiencing, with the hope to help people feel safe and begin to heal. The first version of this story book was developed for people who were impacted by the 2023 wildfires in Maui, Hawai’i. This California story book edition was dedicated to the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and the families they serve, from our neighbors in Hawai’i. Our Hawai’i partners stand in support and healing, and hope this resource brings comfort and strength as you navigate recovery. DDS would like to personally thank our partners at the Center on Disability Studies, College of Education, University of Hawai’i at Manoa; specifically Maya Matheis, PhD for making this dedication and sharing this valuable recovery resource.

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Last modified: April 16, 2025