Los Angeles – Emergency responders from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the American Red Cross recently attended a Kaiser Permanente event honoring approximately 500 Kaiser employees who volunteered thousands of hours of time and expertise to help Eaton and Palisades fire survivors.
During the program, Eli Owen, Cal OES Alternate State Coordinating Officer, acknowledged the importance of volunteerism during a disaster.
“We’re here to recognize something we deeply value: volunteers," said Owen
"Volunteers are the lifeblood of disaster recovery.”
Eli Owen, Cal OES Alternate State Coordinating Officer
Since the January wildfires, more than 500 Kaiser Permanente physicians, nurses, mental health staff, pharmacists, and non-medical personnel contributed over 8,300 hours of volunteer service. Their support extended across multiple sites, including the Pasadena Convention Center, providing essential medical care, mental health services, pharmacy support, and critical equipment.
Michelle Schmeling, Operations Section Chief for FEMA, emphasized the long-term impact of their efforts: “Volunteers have a crucial role in all of our response and recovery efforts. Your selfless contributions unite communities and forge a path forward through unexpected challenges, and you have succeeded on all accounts.”
Michelle Schmeling, FEMA Operations Section Chief
“I’m so grateful to all of you for your ongoing work to provide recovery support and continued care for so many in our community,” Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) told participants at the volunteer appreciation event “Your courage, your compassion, and your commitment has been nothing short of heroic.”
Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) with Kaiser Permanente leadership
Beyond medical care, Kaiser Permanente also played a critical role in operational recovery by donating the use of its Walnut Center office in Pasadena. The facility was transformed into a Joint Field Office (JFO) annex, housing operations for Cal OES, FEMA, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) since February.
Abby Browning, Chief of Private Sector/NGO Coordination for Cal OES, highlighted how this space served as a vital recovery hub: “By generously donating their physical space, non-profit organizations were able to join together to provide much-needed financial, emotional, spiritual and physical support to the community,” said Browning. “This assistance was an essential part of their immediate recovery, and thanks to Kaiser Permanente, survivors had a safe and easily accessible space to connect with them.”
Kaiser Permanente staff reflected on the deeper meaning of their service: “This reminds us of why we became physicians,” said Dr. Ramin Davidoff, Executive Medical Director and Chair of the Board of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group. “To show up when and where people need us the most.”
The close collaboration between Kaiser Permanente, Cal OES, FEMA, SBA, and the American Red Cross showcases the power of partnership between government and nonprofit organizations in building resilience and aiding recovery after a disaster.
Leadership of Kaiser Permanente, Cal OES, FEMA, SBA, and the American Red Cross