InTouch – Nature at Its Worst, People at Their Best

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The pictures and stories coming out of Texas are mind-boggling. The Hurricane Harvey disaster is still unfolding, and it will be some time before anyone can get a handle on the scope of the devastation. It’s a major catastrophe that will affect the region for years and may send reverberations around the country.

The loss of life and property, the lives upended – it just crushes your heart. But amid all the tragedy, we’re also seeing so much that is inspiring. Sometimes it seems to take extreme adversity to put a spotlight on the very best in human nature.

One report after another shows people going to heroic extremes to rescue others in distress. People wading through water to pull others to safety. Boat owners combing neighborhoods to get residents stuck in their homes.

In many cases, we’re watching professionals do the work they’ve trained for and that we rely on in times of crisis. I’m in awe of their tireless efforts.

In many other cases, it’s neighbors helping neighbors. Strangers helping strangers. People motivated by nothing more than their shared humanity.

One incident that vividly captured that sense of coming together: people forming a human chain across a flooded street to reach a man caught in his car. Locking hands and arms, they literally became joined for a common purpose.  

Without losing sight of the immense misery, we can’t help but be uplifted by these scenes. They remind us of the goodwill we can find in most everyone around us.

The storm and flooding should also be a reminder to everyone that massive disasters can simply overwhelm the capacity of official emergency responders. You can’t assume you’ll immediately get help. Each of us needs to be prepared and have a plan for ourselves and our families – pets included! Experts recommend you have enough supplies on hand to get you by for at least three days.   

Remember that all County employees are disaster service workers, meaning you could be called on to perform special duties in an emergency. The time when the public needs us most is not the time to be worrying about whether our own families are taken care of. Get those plans in place now.    

Additionally, through the Advanced Recovery Initiative, the County pre-identifies and pre-trains certain employees so they’re ready to perform critical missions like work in shelters, assist 211 San Diego with providing disaster information to the public, and help communities recover at Local Assistance Centers. If you’re interested, email the Office of Emergency Services.  

We’re heading into peak wildfire season. Last winter’s rains have left thick grasses across San Diego and beneath trees dried out by years of drought. It’s all a spark away from igniting. We live in earthquake country, and one could strike anytime. So we may not face Harvey-style flooding, but we have clear threats of our own and need to be prepared.

ReadySanDiego.org is your go-to resource. Go through the Family Disaster Plan and Personal Survival Guide, stock up on supplies, and get your emergency kit together. Information is one of your top survival tools. Register your cellphone for AlertSanDiego to get messages like evacuations notices for a specific address. That’s especially important if you’ve cut your home’s landline. Download the SDEmergency mobile app to get updates about emergency incidents or to do your planning on the go.

Encourage your relatives and friends to take all those steps as well. Working together to prepare will make it a lot easier to pull together in an emergency.

All the people in Harvey’s path face a long road to recovery. The unity we’ve seen in the initial response will be just as important in coping with the aftermath. But the resilience so dramatically on display now gives us hope and gives testament to the power of perseverance and shared effort.

 

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PerkAlert: Save on Back-to-School Clothes

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It’s time to head back to school, and we have a smart deal for County employees. Find discounted shoes, clothes, backpacks and other supplies on PerkSpot.

Get 15 percent off Roxy and Quicksilver apparel, 20 percent off backpacks at eBags, 30 percent off Sketchers and more retailers on PerkSpot. Plus, you can even take $7 off orders of $70 or more at Target.

PerkSpot offers benefits and discounts through hundreds of service providers and retailers, from movie theaters to florists and jewelers. Go to SDCounty.PerkSpot.com and shop. If you are new, click on “Create an Account” to register.

Each month, one of the most popular PerkSpot deals will be highlighted on InSite.

EAP Now Offers Video Visits with Therapists

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The County’s Employee Assistance Program is now offering a convenient new way for you and your dependents to have a face-to-face session with a therapist. The new web-based video visit service is easy to use, similar to Skype or Facetime, but meets medical security requirements.

Scheduling a video visit is easy. In most cases, you can make an appointment to see a therapist within four days or less. (Appointments are subject to availability of a therapist.) 

Online counselors assist with issues related to work/life balance such as:

  • Parenting

  • Relationships

  • Managing stress

  • Eldercare issues

How to make your first online EAP visit?

  • Call your EAP toll free number 888-777-6665 and request a video session.

  • The EAP representative will tell you more about therapy options, including video visits using LiveHealth Online on your personal computer, smartphone or tablet.

  • If the video visits are right for you, the EAP representative will give you details about how to schedule a visit as well as a special coupon code.

  • The coupon code is entered on the site and allows all visits to be provided at no cost.

  • You can review a therapist’s background and qualifications and select the time for the appointment.

  • You will receive a confirmation email once you have scheduled a visit.

  • The EAP video visit will last about 45 minutes and the therapist can set up future visits if neeed.

How many video visits do I get?

You get up to eight sessions per problem occurrence—the same number of video sessions as in-person visits.

What are the technology requirements?

All you need is a webcam or smartphone with camera and high-speed internet connection. You can use a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

For free and confidential assistance, call EAP at:  888-777-6665 or visit EAPcosd.

Learn While You Lunch in September

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Interested in learning how to cook a new, healthy dish? What about understanding how to better manage your stress? The County Employee Wellness Program has a handful of classes for you in September to help you on your journey to health.

There are six Lunch and Learns coming up next month. You can find the class you want inside LMS.

Once you’re logged into LMS, search for the title of the class you would like to attend. When registering for a Lunch and Learn class, please note each class has been scheduled, based on geographical County sites. For further assistance contact the Department of Human Resources – Employee Wellness Program.

See the Total Solar Eclipse Gallery

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The solar eclipse was captivating on Monday. The moon blocked the sun’s face for the first total eclipse visible in the United States since 1979. Many County libraries hosted viewing parties and many more County employees headed outdoors and to the windows with glasses to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon.

See the gallery online and send in your own eclipse photos to be added.

HHSA Employee Hits the High Notes - Again and Again and Again

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Mercedes Martin-RayaThe next time you stand up for the national anthem at a sporting event or military ceremony in San Diego, you might just be treated to the singing talents of one of your fellow County employees.

Mercedes Martin-Raya, an HHSA protective services worker, has been performing the Star-Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful at events for several years and the invitations to sing just keep coming.

She recently performed at a Padres game. She’s also sung for the Chargers, at Olympic qualifying events in San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Juan Capistrano as well as naval retirement and chief petty officer pinning ceremonies on local military bases.

Despite performing in front of tens of thousands and having done it for years, Mercedes still gets nervous every time.

“I get terrified,” she said. “Especially when I sang at the Padres game. My nervousness goes away when I hit that first note, but before that I’m shaking so much I can barely control it.

“Sometimes we have to push through our fear to do what we love.”

She got her start singing when she was “forced” into voice lessons by her father when she was 12.

“I absolutely hated it,” Mercedes said.

She attended a performing arts school for 12 years and was trained in classical voice techniques.

“Right out of high school I auditioned for the San Diego County Fair and the Del Mar National,” she said.

She’s sung at the Del Mar National, an Olympic qualifying event, for 12 straight years now and has also sung at the Del Mar International (with Olympians from all over the world) for six years.

In all, she sings at about 12-15 events a year. It’s a good thing then that the Star-Spangled Banner is Mercedes’ favorite song. And she’s a purist. She likes the song just the way it is.

“I hate it when people change it. No one does it justice when you try to change it. The song is perfect,” she said. “I don’t fluff it or put a bunch of riffs in there. That’s not my style.”

Her favorite part of the song is hitting that last note and then that little silent moment before the crowd erupts in applause.

“It’s great to know you’ve brought joy to people for two minutes.”

She’s hoping the recent Padres game was a turning point for her.

“I’m hoping to be invited back for more games,” she said. “And I just got a call from San Diego State.

“And I have my dad to thank for making me do it.”

County Prepares for Potential Labor Action

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Labor negotiations are never fun.  And when agreements cannot be reached they add to the stress and anxiety of our entire workforce. SEIU represents approximately 10,000 hardworking County employees.  I respect SEIU’s legal authority to speak on behalf of their represented bargaining units.

As SEIU’s strike vote continues, the County is working diligently to put continuity of operations plans in place to ensure the public is served in the event of any future labor action.  There may be delays and inconveniences to the public but we are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our residents will be protected and county services will remain open for business.  SEIU has agreed to provide us 10-day notice of calling for a strike so that critical life/safety employees can be identified to ensure they fulfill their employment responsibilities to protect the public.  Thank you all.

We remain hopeful that the County and SEIU will come to agreement soon.  Meanwhile, please know that the work you do is very important and your dedication to public service is evident every day.  Thank you for your patience and your continued hard work during these unsettling times.  

 

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