In 2006, the Santa Barbara Civil Grand Jury released a report that identified gaps in community preparedness, including recommending that the OES needed to be a stand-alone government department. The Orfalea Foundations, a Santa Barbara-based philanthropic organization, took interest in resolving the county's preparedness issues and developed the Aware & Prepare initiative.
Natalie Orfalea had noticed that the foundation was receiving requests related to emergency preparedness programs, according to Barbara Andersen, the Aware & Prepare Initiative consultant for the Orfalea Foundations. Those requests, and Orfalea's desire to help the community, prompted her to approach the county and James Lee Witt Associates. Together they established a partnership to aid the community's disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
Go to Emergency Management's article for more information about Santa Barbara's emergency preparedness partnership.