Cooperation • Communication • Coordination • Collaboration

What We Do

N etworking We are a non-binding membership organization that fosters "the Four Cs" —Cooperation, Communication, Coordination, and Collaboration—among organizations to enable them to work together more effectively to help individuals and families affected by disasters.

Each member organization maintains its own identity and independence while collaborating with other member organizations, faith groups, and local, state, and federal authorities.

We do not compete with or exclude other organizations—we are a coordinating mechanism to improve collaboration among organizations throughout Santa Barbara County.

Our Principles

We bring together non-profit and for-profit organizations that may be active during disasters in Santa Barbara County to foster more effective services to people affected by disasters. In doing so we uphold the following principles:

Cooperation. To promote and support cooperation among organizations and individuals active in disasters throughout the County.
Communication. To disseminate information through a resource directory, member training, community education, workshops and drills, and disaster updates.
Coordination. To coordinate policy and procedures among our member organizations and between our members and our government partners in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services provided by our members.
Collaboration. To work together to strengthen partnerships, achieve specific goals, and undertake specific projects in preparation for and response to disasters.

Guidelines and Procedures

Click here to view the latest versions of our Operating Guidelines and Disaster Procedures.

Our Network

Coordinating Committee. Composed of representatives of all member organizations, the Coordinating Committee:

Shares information about members’ needs and resources to improve collaboration.
Provides disaster preparedness information to county residents.

Functional Subcommittees. Our members work together in subcommittees to optimize delivery of services in specific functional areas, such as:

Food Distribution and Preparation
In-Kind Donations
Long-Term Recovery
Access and Functional Needs

Resource Subcommittees. Many of our members offer or distribute disaster-related resources, including:

Communication systems
Transportation vehicles
Volunteers
Animal services, construction, community outreach, counseling, medical supplies, and many more.

View our operating structure.

View a list of our members.

View presentation.

Next step: find out about membership