I. Overview

The Diamond Springs - El Dorado Firefighters' Association has agreed to establish a Disaster Relief Fund to assist citizens in the district who are victims of a personal disaster. The initial grant for the fund is $2,500.00. The association has agreed to replenish the fund to the $2,500.00 level once a year.

II. Management

A. Overall management of the fund is vested with the Diamond Springs - El Dorado Firefighters' Association E-Board.

B. Day to day management of fund disbursements under the guidelines outlined in the following sections is vested with the chief officers or acting chief officers of the district. If the acting chief officer is an employee from another jurisdiction, then the duty captain shall administer any disbursement.

C. No other individuals have the authority to offer or disburse funds.

III. Eligibility

A. Any individual or family who suffers a personal disaster while within the boundaries of the district is eligible for assistance from the fund if the following provisions are met.

1. The proposed recipient(s) has suffered a personal disaster which makes it impossible or difficult to shelter, clothe or feed themselves or their family.

2. A reasonable effort has been made by the chief officer to obtain assistance through other organizations who normally provide assistance, such as insurance companies or the Red Cross.

3. The need is immediate.

B. Residents of the district who are out of the boundaries of the district when a personal disaster occurs may be eligible for assistance if, in the opinion of the duty chief, the need is extreme.

IV. Disbursements

A. No individual or family shall receive more than $500.00 for any one incident without the approval of the E-Board.

B. Disbursements shall not normally be made by cash or check directly to the recipient.

C. Normal disbursement shall be by voucher or Association purchase order to a vender, who shall then submit a bill to the Diamond Springs - El Dorado Firefighters' Association.

D. Disbursements can be made for temporary housing, food and clothing. Travel costs may be granted in order to transport a parent or legal guardian to assist a family after a disaster.

V. Procedure

A. Members are encouraged to bring situations to the attention of a chief officer where disbursement of disaster relief funds may be appropriate.

B. No member shall offer funds without specific permission from a chief officer. Only chief officers (or in some cases the duty captain) or the E-Board can authorize the commitment funds. Do not make or infer a promise of assistance that you do not have the authority to keep.

C. When an individual or family is identified as possibly being eligible for disaster assistance, a chief officer will investigate the situation and determine the needs of the proposed recipient.

D. The chief officer will make a reasonable attempt to obtain aid from other organizations who normally provide aid in emergency situations.

E. The chief officer shall then make a determination of what needs cannot be made through other organizations and offer assistance accordingly. The amount of assistance should be limited to what is truly needed so the fund can be preserved for other incidents.

F. The chief officer shall then issue a voucher or Association purchase order to the recipient for specific purchases at a set amount.

G. The chief officer shall notify the Association president or treasurer as soon as practical that a disbursement has been made.

VI. Venders

The following businesses have agreed to accept vouchers or Association purchase orders for this program.

1. K-Mart

2. Long's

3. Lucky

4. Placerville Inn

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