Santa Clarita Valley Disaster Coalition

The SCVCOA's Board of Directors operates the Senior Center in Newhall and provides the fiscal oversight and regulatory compliance that allows donors of goods, services or money to the Coalition to receive a tax deduction for their charitable contributions.

In the long term, the SCV Disaster Coalition is devoted to promoting awareness of disaster preparedness plans, so local residents know what to do in the event of a disaster. Click here to see the disaster preparation page created by the City of Santa Clarita, a Coalition charter member.

In the short term, the Coalition strives to provide a safety net for local people in need when they need it  most.

SCVDC Background
The SCV Disaster Coalition was founded during the winter of 2004-2005 by a group of local leaders in the private and public sectors in the wake of flooding in Santa Clarita. Initially, the all-volunteer group's mission was to aid local residents whose homes were damaged in the floods.

The Disaster Coalition was reformed and expanded in late summer 2005 in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita through the efforts of charter members Diane Green and Jeri Seratti-Goldman.

With the support of the Santa Clarita Valley community, the Disaster Coalition assisted several displaced individuals and families from Louisiana and Texas who had temporarily relocated to the SCV to live with relatives or friends. Read more.

The Disaster Coalition followed that in late summer 2006 with its "Flood of Books" drive, collecting 97.000 books and trucking them to the Gulf Coast to help restock the libraries of several elementary schools flooded by the storms. Augmented by a donation from Borders, the drive was a huge success and the Coalition was honored for the effort with a Silver Award from the California Emergency Services Association, Southern Chapter (SCESA). Read more.

In fall 2006, the Disaster Coalition was among the local groups joining the City of Santa Clarita fighting CEMEX's proposed expansion of mining operations in Soledad Canyon. Read more here and here.

The Disaster Coalition also assisted the non-profit New Leash on Life animal rescue, retraining and adoption facility in Placerita Canyon via community outreach to raise funds and supplies to repair damage caused by fire that September. Read more.

In October 2007, after a series of wildfires destroyed more than two dozen structures and adversely affected 27 SCV families, the Disaster Coalition began raising funds to help the victims pay for expenses not otherwise covered by insurance, and to cover living expenses until the families either rebuild their homes or relocate to other homes in the area.

In addition to the families, the Disaster Coalition is providing assistance to the Heads Up horse-therapy ranch and the Lombardi family, owners of Lombardi Ranch. Fire severely damaged both properties.

By December 2007, the Disaster Coalition had received donations and grants exceeding $50,000. Read more. By the end of March 2008, donations had exceeded $200,000.

In recognition of the group's efforts on behalf of local wildfire victims, the Disaster Coalition was named Organization of the Year" for 2007 at the SCV Press Club's 12th annual Newsmaker Awards ceremony, sponsored and hosted by The Signal at the Hyatt Valencia Friday, Feb. 29, 2008. Read more.

The Disaster Coalition continues to seek and receive donations from private individuals, businesses and grant sources. Any funds ultimately not used for wildfire relief will go toward preparation for the next unseen disaster. Click here to find out how you can help.

Click here to become a Coalition member, or email help @ scvcoalition.com  for more info.

Who's Involved?

Santa Clarita Valley Disaster Coalition's Charter Members