Critical Employee Emergency Planning

  • California Government Code Section 3100-3109 states in part:

    “It is hereby declared that the protection of the health and safety and preservation of the lives and property of the people of the state from the effects of natural, manmade, or war-caused emergencies which result in conditions of disaster or extreme peril to life, property, and resources is of paramount state importance…in protection of its citizens and resources, all public employees are hereby declared to be disaster service workers…”

    As public employees, all District employees are disaster service workers. All charter school employees (independent and affiliated) are also disaster service workers. Because we serve a population which is dependent on our services, we cannot abandon this critical responsibility. We need to be prepared to protect all of our students during an emergency.

    Please ensure that you and your family are prepared. Please make sure that your family has everything they need to be self-sufficient for five to seven days without regular utilities or services.

    For additional information, contact the Office of Emergency Management at 213-241-5337 or emergencyservices@lausd.net.  

     
    Disaster Service Worker FAQ 
     

    What does disaster service mean?

    Disaster service means all activities authorized by and

    carried out pursuant to the California Emergency

    Services Act*.

    Who is included in the disaster service worker status?

    All public employees are included in the disaster service

    worker status which are all persons employed by any

    county, city, state agency or public district.

    ALL LAUSD employees are disaster service workers,

    as are all charter school employees.

    What are the scope of duties of employee disaster service workers?

    Any public employees performing duties as a disaster

    service worker shall be considered to be acting within the

    scope of disaster service duties while assisting any unit of

    the organization or performing any act contributing to the

    protection of life or property or mitigating the effects of

    an emergency.

    Do public employees acting as disaster service workers get paid?

    Public employees acting as disaster service workers

    get paid only if they have taken and subscribed to the

    oath or affirmation.

    How are public employees assigned disaster service activities?

    Public employees are assigned disaster service activities

    by their superiors or by law to assist the agency

    in carrying out its responsibilities during times of

    disaster. 

    What is the oath or affirmation referred to in the government code?

    Before entering upon the duties of employment, all

    public employees take and subscribe to the oath or

    affirmation set forth in the California Constitution

    that declares them to be disaster service workers in

    time of need.

    When does disaster service worker status apply?

    Employees may be activated as disaster service workers any time of day or night

    if there has been a declared disaster, and may be recalled during a work stoppage.

    When do public employees take the oath or affirmation?

    Most public employees sign the oath or affirmation

    during the hiring process and it is kept with the

    employer.

    Can disaster service workers be sued for actions taken while performing duties?

    Public employee disaster service workers for nonprofit organizations and government

     
    cannot be held liable for their actions during a disaster while acting within
     
    the scope of their responsibilities.

    What if public employees are injured while acting as disaster service workers?

    Claims sustained by public employees while performing

    disaster services shall be filed as worker

    compensation claims under the same authorities and

    guidelines as with all employees within their agency.