OUR MISSION

“Promoting Disaster Preparedness through Proactive Community Outreach”

COPSS focuses outreach efforts to the Harbor Area Communities (cities of San Pedro, Harbor City, Wilmington, Palos Verdes Peninsula).

COPSS holds regular forums that engage community members in disaster preparedness, check our EVENTS page for a list of recent events.

BACKGROUND:
     During the fall of 2004, the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council identified  emergency preparedness as a critical unmet need in the Los Angeles harbor area. Council  board member, Lonna Calhoun, agreed to take the lead in forming a community committee  to begin dialogue on this very important issue. Other Harbor Area Neighborhood Councils also felt this was a priority need and joined the committee which became known as COPSS.   COPSS began conducting monthly community forums on emergency preparedness and these forums have included expert speakers. COPSS also began making presentations to homeowner associations, chambers of commerce, neighborhood councils, church groups, and several other community organizations.    COPSS also set up an inclusive web site with valuable information and important links.   Most importantly, from the beginning of the process, COPSS has included local first responder representatives (including the LAPD, LAFD, LA Port staff, Coast Guard, and others) COPSS has forged an excellent working relationship with these important city agencies.

ROLE OF COPSS:    
   COPSS began with the realization that a missing link in emergency preparedness  was the involvement of the citizens in the Harbor area. Indeed, Los Angeles City agencies were  busy working on advancing their role in preparation for an emergency, however, it did not appear  that any one particular city agency had clear responsibility or the necessary resources   to inform and involve all the citizens in planning for a future emergency. COPSS is the  logical community based organization to work in collaboration with city agencies to outreach  to the community....to assure that emergency preparedness becomes a priority of the citizens.  City agencies like the LAPD, LAFD, Coast Guard and others have been encouraging COPSS to  be the out front agency for outreach to the citizens.   COPSS has established credibility through the monthly forums, local community presentations and working with the key Los Angeles city agencies like LAPD, LAFD, etc. In 2007 COPSS has formed a non profit corporation to begin seeking the necessary funding support to hire staff required to begin a successful community outreach program. COPSS is supported  by a credible board of directors who have given extensively of their talent and time.