About

About Disaster Response Services

Training minds. Mobilizing technology. Saving lives.

Disaster Response Services (DRS) is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
based in Humboldt County, California. We exist to teach disaster preparedness,
support responders, and bring practical, hands-on training and technology to communities that
are often overlooked or hard to reach.

From neighborhood CERT training and Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) to mobile classrooms,
youth preparedness media, and human-centered AI tools, DRS focuses on one mission:
helping more people know what to do before, during, and after an emergency.

Explore DRS Programs
Contact DRS

Who we are

A community-first nonprofit built for real-world readiness

DRS was created to bridge the gap between what communities wish they had during a crisis
and what is actually available to them on the ground. We are a mission-driven nonprofit that
designs programs, builds tools, and shows up to support residents, responders, schools,
and partner agencies.

Our work spans classroom training, hands-on skills, field support, technology development,
and media that makes preparedness feel human, accessible, and practical — not distant,
confusing, or easy to ignore.

Community-focused disaster preparedness education
Support for rural, tribal, and hard-to-reach communities
Partnerships with fire agencies, CERT coalitions, and schools
Technology that reinforces — not replaces — human responders

What we do in the real world

Training, support, outreach, and technology that work together

DRS brings together training, equipment, and innovation into one connected system so that
preparedness does not stop at a single class or brochure.

Fire & TECC Division: firefighter rehab, TECC training, defensible space outreach, and future off-road support capability.
CERT & Community Preparedness: neighborhood-based training, rural and tribal outreach, and family-level readiness.
Mobile Classroom / Command Trailer: on-site classroom space, incident support, studio use, and accessible learning design.
Applied Intelligence Division (A.I.D.): A.I.D.E.N., CERT Companion AI, LMS tools, and planning support.
Youth Preparedness & Media: Paws for Life, community storytelling, and educational outreach projects.

Leadership

Led by field experience, instruction, and service

Brian Brown is the Executive Director and Lead Instructor of Disaster Response Services (DRS).
He also serves as the organization’s official Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Manager,
working in partnership with the Humboldt County CERT Coalition (HCC) to deliver training and community preparedness programs.

Brian designs and teaches courses across First Aid/CPR/AED, Stop the Bleed, Wilderness & Remote First Aid,
Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC), disaster psychology, and youth preparedness.
He also leads the design and integration of AI tools, mobile classroom operations, and DRS media projects.

DRS is further supported by its Board of Directors, volunteers, subject-matter experts, and partner agencies
across Humboldt County and beyond.

How our programs fit together

DRS is built as an ecosystem, not a single class. Each division, program, and tool is designed
to reinforce the others so training, technology, outreach, and field operations stay connected.

Training & Courses

Core lifesaving skills for residents, responders, and partners

First Aid / CPR / AED
Stop the Bleed and TECC
CERT and disaster psychology
Youth and school-based safety programs

View Training & LMS →

Mobile Classroom

Training, support, and outreach brought directly into the field

On-site training for schools and agencies
Incident support and communications
Studio mode for podcast and youth media work
Inclusive, air-scrubbed learning environment

Explore the Trailer →

Applied Intelligence & Media

Technology and storytelling that strengthen preparedness

A.I.D.E.N. and CERT Companion AI
Digital courses and LMS support
Paws for Life youth preparedness media
The Command Post podcast and outreach projects

Explore Media & AI Projects →

How we approach the work

Preparedness should be practical, respectful, and accessible

DRS operates on a simple principle: every person, family, and neighborhood deserves access
to realistic training and support — not only in big cities, but in rural and remote places too.

We build programs that are collaborative, trauma-aware, and respectful of local culture,
leadership, and lived experience.

Our values

The standards we try to live by

Respect: honoring the people and cultures we serve
Clarity: teaching in plain language, not jargon
Collaboration: working with communities and agencies, not over them
Care: supporting emotional as well as physical safety
Integrity: doing what we say we will do

How partners plug in

There are many ways to work with DRS

Host a training course or preparedness series
Partner on youth, school, or media projects
Support equipment, vehicles, or technology goals
Co-design outreach for specific communities

If you want to explore a partnership, DRS can help talk through what makes sense for your
community, school, agency, or organization.

Ready to connect with DRS?

Whether you are a resident, educator, responder, tribal representative, volunteer,
or potential sponsor, there is room for you in this mission.

Contact DRS
Support the Mission