The Sun City Palm Desert Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) is an all-volunteer force of residents who have committed to helping the Sun City Palm Desert community after earthquakes, power outages, or other major disasters when there may be limited or no assistance available from government agencies.

The EPC is directly responsible to the Board of Directors of the Community Association of Sun City Palm Desert. The EPC’s mission is to train, inform, and assist residents and staff in case of an emergency. When there is an incident of any kind, the EPC is alerted. If it is determined that full or partial activation is required, an Incident Command Structure (ICS) is immediately activated and replaces the EPC. EPC members are notified in a chain of cascading responsibility.

EPC Charter and Bylaws are reviewed annually and changes are made as needed (a copy of the Charter and Bylaws are available on the Resources page).

Sun City Palm Desert residents interested in volunteering for the EPC, or who would like more information, can contact us at EPC@scpdca.com

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee consists of 11 positions that oversee more than 600 volunteers who function in numerous capacities. Members of the EPC Executive Committee are also part of the Incident Command Structure.

Emergency Operations Center

The EPC Emergency Operations Center is a free standing building located at the back of the Mountain View Clubhouse by the outdoor pool. This building is equipped with a backup generator to support members of the EPC team who work together during an emergency. The Emergency Operations Center contains 2-way radios to communicate within our community, as well as HAM radios and a satellite phone to communicate with outside emergency contacts.

In an emergency, the EPC Executive Committee will rendezvous at the Emergency Operations Center, determine the nature and severity of the emergency, and decide upon the extent and means of community volunteer activation.

District Directors

There are 14 EPC districts. Each district is headed by a District Director responsible for the organization and functioning of the EPC in their district. Each district has 200-500 homes. Contact information is listed each month in the “News & Views” resident magazine in the EPC section.

Command Posts

When a disaster occurs, pre-designated command posts are set up in garages or common areas throughout the community. Each Command Post is managed by a Block Captain Coordinator who is the team lead for a designated area of the community. The team will include Block Captains who check on residents in their assigned district and radio their command post for assistance.

Currently, there are 36 Command Posts, each serving as a communications center between a neighborhood and the Emergency Operations Center. Command Posts serve as an assembly location for EPC volunteers and residents to meet within a neighborhood in a disaster. A link to a map of command post locations is available on the Resources page.

Block Captains

In a disaster, Block Captains report to their assigned Command Posts and receive supplies including a reflective vest, walkie-talkie, and assignment logs. Block Captains go door to door checking on the well-being of residents in their assigned area. There may also be Assistant Block Captains who help with in-home checks, get messages to the Command Post, and direct injured residents to one of the First Aid Stations. We have 317 Block Captain assignments in the community and are always needing more volunteers for this critical response operation.

First Aid Stations

In an emergency, basic first aid for injured residents will be available at the Mountain View First Aid Station. Two other locations will open as staffing is available.

• Mountain View Clubhouse – Building “D” adjacent to the tennis courts

• Sunset View Clubhouse – Bocce Courts (open if staffing permits)

• Lakeview Clubhouse – Tahoe Room (open if staffing permits)

A link to a map showing First Aid Station locations is available on the Resources page.

Volunteer Teams

Volunteer teams are the backbone of the EPC. Full-time residency is not a requirement. See EPC Volunteer Teams page for more info.

Spontaneous Volunteer Center

Volunteers not previously assigned to one of the Districts, First Aid Stations, or Specialty Teams will be directed to a centralized Volunteer Center most likely near the Mountain View Clubhouse. Location of the Center will be announced to all District Command Posts and on the Sun City Palm Desert Radio Station AM 1620.

Emergency Broadcast Radio Station – AM 1620

In cooperation with Riverside County Authorities, the Sun City Palm Desert EPC can activate a low-power AM radio station during a major disaster. Residents will be able to listen to AM 1620 using their car or portable radio and receive information about the emergency as it pertains to conditions within Sun City Palm Desert.