The Disaster Emergency Services (DES) Committee was developed to assist local communities in coping with disasters. One of its chief activities is the SEAONC volunteer program, which is coordinated with the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) and SEAOC. This program includes damage simulation workshops and assistance to CalEMA and local building officials after local and distant damaging earthquakes.

In addition, DES is in charge of updating the computer data base used to contact volunteer inspectors in the event of an emergency. It matches the experience and expertise of the volunteers with the type and extent of damage to be assessed.

1. Recruit and New Committee Members
   Maintain contacts with the Young Members Forum and other groups to increase the size of the committee. Encourage active participation of all DES Committee members. Continue to recruit a vice-chair from the group of current active committee members.
   
2. Volunteer Reserve Corps
   Maintain the SEAONC/ CalEMA Volunteer Reserve Corps.
   This shall include:
   • Update information on the volunteer list
     
   • Coordinate the volunteer program with CalEMA
     
3. Building Occupancy Resumption Program (BORP)
   Maintain relations with the San Francisco Bureau of Building Inspection regarding assistance in the implementation and development of the local volunteer inspection program.
   This shall include:
   • The BORP subcommittee will continue to review applicants who apply to participate in the program
     
   • Participate in seminars to promote the San Francisco BORP
     
4. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)
   Provide support to local Urban Search and Rescue task forces headquartered in Menlo Park (CA-TF3) and Oakland (CA-TF4), and Sacramento (CA-TF 7) including the following:
   
   • Recruit candidates to function as Structural Specialists for the USAR team
     
   • Finance selective training opportunities for structural specialist candidates
     
5. Organizational Liaison
   
   • Continue ongoing discussions with local building officials, CalEMA, AIA, and ASCE regarding the utilization of DES volunteers after a major earthquake in California.
   • Establish relationships with local neighborhood emergency response teams [e.g. San Francisco Fire Department’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) Program]
     
6. ATC-20 Training Seminar
   Coordinate ATC-20 training seminar sponsored by SEAONC every 18-24 months. This task shall include:
   
   • Secure a site and competent speakers for the seminar.
   • Secure volunteers to assist with implementing the details for the seminar.
   • Develop and issue advertisement flyers for the seminar to be issued to interested organizations.