Disaster Service Worker Training
All county employee DSWs are required to receive instructional training covering the role, responsibilities, and legal obligations of serving as a DSW.
The training, Your Role as a Disaster Service Worker, can be found on TalentWorks.
All new County hires are required to complete the DSW training once within the first 60 days of their appointment.
Forms and Documents
DSW Pamphlet
The DSW Pamphlet includes information about the program, related policy, and available resources.
Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance and Deputization Form
This form is used to obtain the mandatory oath or affirmation as required by the state constitution for public employees. Signature of employee and appointed deputy required.
DSW Annual Agreement Form
Annual agreement form required of all employees.
DSW Reassignment Sample Letter
Sample letter for informing employees of their reassignment to a DSW activity.
Appointment of Deputy Form
Form used for Department Heads to appoint deputies.
FEMA Activity Log ( ICS Form 214)
To be completed by all deployed DSWs during their assignment to track their daily activity.
Departmental DSW Program Coordinators
To support the DSW Program, each department designates a DSW program coordinator to assist their departmental employees by answering their inquiries, providing instructions, and working with DHR on various parts of the program.
Please click below to access the most recent list of Departmental DSW program coordinators.
Emergency Preparation Resources
ReadyLACounty Site
Visit the Ready LA County website to sign up for emergency alerts, learn about having an emergency plan, keeping emergency supplies, and staying informed.
Link: Ready.lacounty.gov/
Emergency Survival Guide
Available on the ReadyLACounty website, click below for a direct link to the County of Los Angeles Emergency Survival Guide.
Link: ready.lacounty.gov/emergency-survival-guide/
LA County Emergency Site
Visit the LA County Emergency website to see the latest information on widespread emergency incidents that County Departments are actively responding to.
Link: lacounty.gov/emergency/
CEO – Office of Emergency Management Partner Links
Visit the Office of Emergency Management’s document library to access various partner links including state, federal and other agencies with resources related to emergency management and response.
Link: ceo.lacounty.gov/document-library/
LA County Udemy – Emergency Preparedness Courses
Visit Udemy Learning to search for and access courses that cover various emergency preparedness topics.
Link: lacounty.udemy.com
CAL OES – Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Visit the CAL OES website to view statewide information about emergency preparedness, receiving assistance, and responding to disasters.
Link: CalOES.ca.gov
American Red Cross
Visit the Red Cross website to learn about their services, including immediate disaster relief for individuals, families, and communities.
Link: redcross.org
Department of Mental Health – First Responders
Visit the Department of Mental Health First Responders Resources page for resources that provide support for the unique challenges frontline staff, first responders and other County employees may experience.
Link: dmh.lacounty.gov/resources/first-responders
Wellbeing for LA – Learning Center
This DMH + UCLA Public Partnership for Wellbeing offers a collection of resources and opportunities for support to frontline workers, county employees, school staff, and care professionals.
Link: learn.wellbeing4la.org
COVID-19 Deployment History
Beginning in March 2020, the County faced unique and unexpected situations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the County to implement major changes across all County departments. The County faced considerable uncertainty and extraordinary conditions, such as business shutdowns, Stay-At-Home orders, COVID-19 related sheltering, cleaning and face covering requirements, and COVID-19 testing recommendations and protocols.
Consequently, the Department of Human Resources worked closely with CEO’s Office of Emergency Management to deploy approximately 50,000 county employees to assist and support various emergency missions and assignments.
Some of those missions included:
- Housing and Medical Shelters
- Contact Tracing
- Personal Protective Equipment distribution
- Vaccination and Testing Site Support
- Project RoomKey
- Meal and Supply Delivery
- Election Voting Centers
The pandemic was official declared over in Los Angeles County on March 31, 2023. At its conclusion, county employees fulfilled their role as Disaster Service Workers in approximately 45 various emergency missions and assignments during the COVID-19 pandemic
DSW Program – Timesheet Codes
During active DSW deployment, employees should use project and task order codes on their timesheet specific to the DSW activities they are participating in.
Please click below to download the list of active timesheet codes currently in use.
For any specific questions on how to code your timesheet, please reach out to your timekeeper or department’s payroll section.
Photo Gallery
The CEO Countywide Communications team manages a diverse photo stream that includes photos from various county events, many of which are from DSW-related projects such as Project Room Key, vaccination and testing sites, personal protective equipment and supply distribution events, and more.
To view this photo steam, please click here.
