VCCF Disaster Resilience and Preparedness
Disaster Readiness and Resilience
In the face of increasing frequency and severe disasters, VCCF launched the Ventura County Disaster Resilience Initiative in 2023 with support from Edison International, bringing together government, community, and faith-based organizations to foster greater disaster readiness within the county.
With a holistic approach spanning support for mitigation, preparedness, as well as planning and capacity building for immediate response and long-term recovery, the initiative was born from the results of a study VCCF commissioned in 2019/2020, gathering input from 87 community leaders and local disaster survivors that highlighted the need for greater coordination across sectors, as well as building the capacity of local nonprofits for disaster response and recovery, in particular those addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, non-English speakers, older adults, and farmworkers.
Initiative investments include:
 2024
- Created the Ventura County Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund in response to the Mountain Fire, in partnership with the County of Ventura. This effort was dedicated to support individuals and nonprofit organizations providing essential aid to those most affected in times of crisis, addressing immediate and long-term needs of those impacted by disaster, and preparing to support our community through what’s to come.To date, the fund has granted over $975,000, providing individual financial assistance and addressing critical needs such as…
• Temporary housing and medical equipment replacement.
• Emergency childcare and financial assistance for families who lost homes.
• Support for farmworkers, including over $50,000 for those who lost work and housing.
• Covering evacuation costs for more than 450 animals, and veterinary bills for injured pets from families who lost homes. - Launched Disaster Resilience Fellowship, a year-long program for a cohort of leaders of key nonprofits that provide services identified as essential to be operational in the days and weeks after a hazard event. The inaugural fellows include:
- 805 UndocuFund – Primitiva Hernandez
- Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo – Roberto Martinez
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme – Erin Antrim
- Food Share of Ventura county – Monica White
- Humane Society of Ventura County – Officer Kendra King
- MICOP – Genevieve Flores-Haro
- Safe Passages Youth Foundation – Tim Hagel
- Westminster Free Clinic - Lisa Safaenilli
2023
- Lead sponsor of the California Wildfire conference held in Simi Valley at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in October 2023 that convened more than 200 fire departments, government agencies, community, and indigenous leaders with expertise in fire mitigation from around the state and nation for exchanges on promising practices, exploration of innovation and adaptation, and best practices in preparedness.
- Emergency Guide developed by the Pacific Coast Business Times for small businesses in the private and social sectors that provides essential information on how to ensure your organization is disaster ready, as well as key resources should you be impacted by a disaster.
- Funding of the Ventura County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VC VOAD), the county-wide collaborative that coordinates nonprofits and faith-based organizations in disaster response planning and activation of response in alignment with local and regional emergency management agencies.
The leaders of these organizations are meeting throughout the year to deepen their knowledge and understanding of emergency management systems at the local, regional, state, and national level; discuss lessons from past disaster experience; and coordinate disaster planning. Each organization is developing their own Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) and training staff so they can safely and rapidly re-start vital services such as access to food, medical care, childcare, animal rescue and boarding, and distribution of immediate disaster assistance.
Collectively, the fellows are developing a shared vision for a more prepared and resilient nonprofit sector in Ventura County, including information sharing, mutual understanding of disaster capacities, and available resources so that together they are prepared to act swiftly when crisis strikes.
We are grateful to for their support and partnership on this initiative.