Emergency Rest Center Program

The Emergency Rest Center (ERC) Program is a partnership between the Philadelphia Managing Director’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiative (MOFI), and faith- and community-based facilities around the City of Philadelphia.

Emergency Rest Centers are locations made available to residents for a temporary place of refuge in times of emergency. This program intends to establish a series of ERCs throughout all seven Police Divisions of the City.

A variety of incidents could require the activation of ERCs throughout all, or parts, of the City of Philadelphia. Like other large metropolitan areas, Philadelphia must have the capabilities to evacuate large masses of people and assist them during such evacuations. Additionally, ERCs may be activated as support for localized, small-scale emergencies within Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Learn what it takes to become an Emergency Rest Center, how your organization can participate or how you can become involved by visiting the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management at www.phila.gov/ready.