Employees Urged to Be Prepared for Earthquakes, Register for ShakeOut

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The County Office of Emergency Services and San Diego County Fire/CAL FIRE recommend that everyone learn earthquake safety and response, but do you know why it is especially important for San Diego County employees and their families to know what to do and be prepared? 

All San Diego County employees are considered Disaster Service Workers, and that means that we might all be called upon to assist in a natural disaster like an earthquake. This is why the County urges all employees to have an emergency plan for their family and emergency supplies at home. If called to work, you will want to know that your family will be safe.

We are in the final hours to register for the Great California ShakeOut, a drill that allows people to practice what to do during an earthquake. In San Diego County, more than 900,000 individuals, businesses and organizations are registered to drop, cover and hold on at 10:18 a.m. on Thursday 10/18. On a worldwide scale, ShakeOut organizers say millions of people will take part in the drill.

“Even if you cannot participate in the drill on Thursday, you can still register and practice your response at home with your family when it is more convenient to you. While you’re at it, review your disaster plan and check emergency supplies,” said Stephen Rea, assistant director for the County Office of Emergency Services. “We live in a state that is known for earthquakes and while we cannot predict earthquakes, one could happen at any time.”

Tony Mecham, County Fire and CAL FIRE San Diego Unit Chief, adds, “By learning what to do during an earthquake and practicing at work, school and home, it gives everyone a better chance of survival and improves recovery time. First responders may be unable to get to households in a large-scale disaster and that’s why people need to have basic supplies such as food and water at home.”

Drop, cover and hold on is the protective action recommended by federal, state and local emergency preparedness organizations as the best way to avoid or reduce injury during an earthquake. If indoors, seek cover under a desk or table, or if one is not in the area, move away from glass and heavy furniture and protect your head. Do not run outside if shaking begins but if already outdoors, try to find a clear area and sit down and protect your head. Move away from building exteriors, trees, and power lines if possible. For more specific situations and video demonstrations, click here.

The ShakeOut drill can be conducted in as little as 90 seconds. After your drill, look around your surroundings at work or at home to see what items might fall down or topple over during intense shaking and cause injury, then secure furniture and wall hangings to prevent the hazard.

Drill tips and information resources are available on the ShakeOut website. Free family disaster plan templates are also available on www.ReadySanDiego.org in multiple languages. The templates include a list of important items to assemble in your disaster emergency kit.

Here are a few other things that may be helpful for employees to do: 

Enter Employee Halloween Costume Contest

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Halloween is creeping up on us. We have just two more weeks to get our frighteningly fun and fangtastic costumes together for the big day!

On Oct. 31, show your spirit by entering the 2018 County employees Halloween Costume Contest. All the kooky and spooky submissions will be displayed in a photo gallery on InSite. The rules are:

  • Send one photo of yourself in costume to communications@sdcounty.ca.gov by 4 p.m., Oct. 31.

  • Include your full name, title, department and who (or what) you are dressed as in the body of the email. Please type the information even if it is in your signature block.

  • The photo should be taken between Friday, Oct. 26 and Wednesday, Oct. 31—this ensures employees who wear a uniform or work an alternative schedule can participate.

  • One entry per employee. You can enter as an individual or as a group—but not both. If you enter as an individual, be the only person in the photo. If you enter as a group, have just one person submit the photo.

2017 Costume Contest winner John Saucedo, Appraiser II, Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk

Employees will be able to vote on InSite for their favorite costume from 10 finalists on Nov. 1 through 4:45 p.m. The winner will have bragging rights for one full year!

Don’t let the fun end there. Attend or watch the live video of Dia de los Muertos celebration at the County Operations Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Nov. 1. The festivities will include the County’s Got Talent competition, creative crafts, great games, a fantastic photo booth and terrific treats!

Fall in Love with these Halloween Discounts

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Get into the spirit of Halloween with these spooktacular deals on PerkSpot. Take 30 percent off a costume or décor at Halloween Express. Or travel on your broomstick to frighteningly fun local attractions with scary good deals on tickets; Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Night tickets are up to $33 off and Knott’s Scary Farm tickets up to 60 percent off. 

PerkSpot offers benefits and discounts through more than 400 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.

Check Your Mood Day is Thursday

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How are you feeling today?

It seems like a casual question, but the answer could give insight into the status of your mental health. 

We often overlook our mental health. Getting screened for depression should be an important part of your health care regimen, much like checking your blood pressure or getting screened for heart disease or diabetes.

On October 11, in conjunction with National Depression Screening Day, the County of San Diego and community partners encourage you to “Check Your Mood” and check in with how you are feeling. It’s an annual event to engage and encourage San Diego residents to assess and monitor their emotional well-being.

Screenings will be held at dozens of locations throughout the County. The locations, found on an interactive map, are quick and anonymous opportunities to find mental health assistance, resources and referrals. Several additional locations will have information available. 

In addition to the week of screenings, the County’s multilingual Access and Crisis Line (888-724-7240) continues to be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day with access to County behavioral health services all year long.

The County of San Diego’s Employee Assistance Program also offers 24/7 assistance if you or someone you are concerned about needs to talk about depression. 

You can call EAP at 888-777-6665 or visit their Let’s Talk Depression site to take a depression quiz, view online seminars, find articles on dealing with depression or be connected to resources.

County facilities hosting screenings for employees include:

  • County Operations Center

  • County Administration Center

  • East Region Live Well Center

  • FRC Fallbrook

  • North Coastal FRC

  • North Inland Live Well Center

  • FRC North Central

  • FRC-Metro

  • South Region Live Well Center  

  • County Library locations in El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Santee, Vista and Lakeside

For more information about Check Your Mood, a map of participating locations and additional resources, please visit www.LiveWellSD.org/CheckYourMood. If you are unable to visit a screening site on Thursday, you can take a quick, free and anonymous assessment online.

Benefits Ambassadors Can Help with Open Enrollment

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There’s a lot of information to review before making your 2019 benefits elections. If you have questions, experts are ready to help! A Benefits Ambassador can be reached by email or phone. There are several for each County business group.

Visit the Open Enrollment webpage from work or home computers and enroll by 5 p.m., Oct. 25.

Meet your Benefits Ambassadors.

CSG: Leah (Miralei) Samaniego, Johnna Duty, Shanda Berke, Kathie Oliver

CSG: Leah (Miralei) Samaniego, Johnna Duty, Shanda Berke, Kathie Oliver

CSG Benefits Ambassadors:

Leah (Miralei) Samaniego 858-505-7207

Johnna Duty 858-694-2481

Shanda Berke 858-694-2477

Kathie Oliver 858-694-3491

Bryan Faircloth 58-505-6384

FGG: Jeannette Garcia, Erika Zepeda, Carolina Lee, Susan Budzien, Carmina Vasquez, Nancy Lahti

FGG: Jeannette Garcia, Erika Zepeda, Carolina Lee, Susan Budzien, Carmina Vasquez, Nancy Lahti

FGG Benefits Ambassadors:

Jeannette Garcia 619-531-5733

Carolina Lee 619-531-5123

Susan Budzien 858-694-2090

Carmina Vasquez 858-505-6531

Nancy Lahti 619-531-4859

HHSA: Michelle Deitrich, Lisa Leslie, Shari Arzt, Sheri Boose, Emily Fick, Rick Needham, Leanne Hughes, Imelda Holst

HHSA: Michelle Deitrich, Lisa Leslie, Shari Arzt, Sheri Boose, Emily Fick, Rick Needham, Leanne Hughes, Imelda Holst

HHSA Benefits Ambassadors:

Michelle Deitrich 858-636-3586

Lisa Leslie 619-542-4179

Shrai Arzt 619-409-9823

Sheri Boose 619-338-2329

Emily Fick 619-338-2441

Rick Needham 858-636-3584

Leanne Hughes 858-563-2782

Imelda Holst 858-495-5225

Christian Del Razo 619-668-3885

Elizabeth Amstadter 858-650-5614

LUEG: Renee Errasquin, Carolina Landeros-Morgan

LUEG: Renee Errasquin, Carolina Landeros-Morgan

LUEG Benefits Ambassadors:

Renee Errasquin 858-505-6996

Carolina Landeros-Morgan 858-495-5130

Jennifer Busskohl 858-614-7707

Richard Hernandez 858-966-1359

PSG: Matilde Osuna, Erica Johnson, Rosanna Alvarado-Martin, Melinda Cortes, Casandra Reid, Maria-Elena Davidson, Maria Quidachay, Khuyen Pham, Michele King, Sharon Cruz, Marisa McCarty, Steve Workman

PSG: Matilde Osuna, Erica Johnson, Rosanna Alvarado-Martin, Melinda Cortes, Casandra Reid, Maria-Elena Davidson, Maria Quidachay, Khuyen Pham, Michele King, Sharon Cruz, Marisa McCarty, Steve Workman

PSG Benefits Ambassadors:

Matilde Osuna 858-974-2490

Erica Johnson 619-531-4520

Rosanna Alvarado-Martin 760-740-5517

Melinda Cortes 619-731-3683

Casandra Reid 858-650-6530

Maria-Elena Davidson 858-514-3185

Maria Quidachay 858-514-3119

Khuyen Pham 619-338-4832

Michele King 858-974-2017

Sharon Cruz 858-974-2331

Marisa McCarty 858-974-2366

Steve Workman 858-974-2018

Maria Pacheco 858-650-6536

Paul Lugue 858-974-2351

Linda Murphy 858-974-2005

Matthew Rankin 858-974-2482

Melissa G. Martinez 858-974-2378

The Journey of the CECO Dollar Begins with You

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The 2018 San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO) Fall Campaign has begun! It’s a great time to consider signing up for biweekly contributions to help support this 62-year County tradition of giving. Or perhaps you’d like to lend a hand by supporting fundraisers such as bake sales, opportunity drawings and other fun and creative events in your department.

CECO is funded entirely by donations from County employees like you. Over the years, the organization has been able to send millions of dollars to local community groups. Want to know how your contribution will be distributed? Watch the journey of the CECO dollar above or view the CECO 2017 Annual Report. 

Upcoming Countywide events include the annual Bake Sale and Bake Off at the County Administration Center on Oct. 26, a Food Truck Fundraiser at the County Operations Center on Nov. 9, and a Pie Drive for Thanksgiving. More details to come soon!

Employees Get Pepped Up for Aztec Football

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Employees gathered at the County Operations Center Monday for a cheerful pep rally. The event promoted San Diego State football’s Friday, Oct. 12 game against Air Force at SDCCU Stadium, which is the Aztecs’ 2018 Mountain West Conference home opener and County of San Diego Employee Night.

Rush over to Ticketmaster and use promo code “COUNTY” to purchase tickets now—this offer expires on Oct. 11. Tickets are $15 each, originally $20. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.