Office of Emergency Services

The goal of HHSA's Office of Emergency Services (OES) is to prepare Tulare County and it's residents for natural or man-made disasters. Families and individuals who prepare for these possible disasters can reduce their fear and anxiety by knowing what to do and who to contact in the event of an emergency.

If an emergency does occur, your state and local governments will do all they can to assist you. You can help prepare yourself for emergencies by having your own emergency kit or in-home shelter. If you have animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, horses and livestock, know what to do to make them safe. Be aware of what you can do during floods, earthquakes, extreme heat, home fires, wildfires severe winter storms and extreme cold.

The media has made us all conscious of the possible threats of West Nile Virus, Smallpox and SARS. But, we should also know what to do if there is a biological, chemical or radiological situation.  Become familiar with how to get information in an emergency and where to find emergency care. Your best protection is preparation.

In the event an emergency is declared in Tulare County, all public employees are obligated to serve as Disaster Service Workers (DSWs). As DSWs, public employees may be assigned to perform activities which promote the protection of public health and safety or the preservation of lives and property. This requirement is designated by both State and County law.

  • Public employees include all county and city staff.
  • DSWs provide services and aid during a declared emergency, disaster or catastrophic event.
  • At any time during a declared emergency you are required to report to work and you may be assigned to disaster service work.
  • As a DSW, you may be assigned to locations and duties outside of your normal job responsibilities.

Click here to view a 12-minute video which was designed specifically for public employees to learn about their role as a Disaster Service Worker.

HHSA is also the lead agency for the Tulare County Operational Area. The Office of Emergency Services (OES) is charged with coordinating and managing resources to prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigate against disasters of all kinds.

  •  Preparedness: OES maintains and updates the Emergency Operations Plan and its annexes, which provide the framework and operating procedures for managing disasters and emergencies in Tulare County. OES provides countywide emergency management training and exercises to test plans and response capabilities. OES also administers the Homeland Security Grant Program.
  •  Response: OES ensures staffing and functionality of the Emergency Operations Center. In 2009, OES launched AlertTC, the County’s reverse 911 system for notifying residents of any threat to public health or safety.
  •  Recovery: OES is responsible for coordinating activities that restore communities, infrastructure and critical support systems to a state of normalcy.
  •  Mitigation: OES is the lead in development of the county’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and is actively involved in promoting and implementing mitigation strategies to reduce the future impacts of disasters in our county.