*This has been updated to reflect additional counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Orange and Stanislaus.
With a significant winter storm bringing rain, snow, strong winds and renewed flooding across the state, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has strategically prepositioned critical resources near burn scar areas in seven counties – Los Angeles, Orange, Contra Costa, Lake, Monterey, Sonoma and El Dorado – as well as five other counties – Marin, Butte and Sacramento, Santa Barbara and Stanislaus – with major flooding concerns.
The prepositioned resources include:
Los Angeles County (Ranch 2/Lake/Bobcat Burn Scars): 1 Local Government Helicopter, 1 Local Government Hand Crew Type 2, 1 Local Government Dozer with Transport, 1 Local Government Swift Water Rescue, 1 Dispatcher
Orange County (Bond Fire Scar): 5 OES Engines Type 3, 1 Local Government Dozer, 1 Local Government Swift Water Rescue, 1 Local Government Hand Crew Type 2
Contra Costa County (CZU Lightning Burn Scar): 3 Local Government Engines Type 3, 1 Local Government Hand Crew Type 2
Lake County (August Complex Burn Scar): 1 Local Government Engine Type 2, 1 Local Government Engine Type 6, 2 Local Government IMT Overhead
Monterey County (Colorado Fire Burn Scar): 1 Local Government Engine Task Force: 1 Type 1 Engines, 4 Type 3 Engines, 2 Type 6 Engines, 8 Local Government IMT Overhead
Sonoma County (Tubbs/Glass/August Burn Scars): 3 Local Government Engines Type 2, 2 Local Government Engines Type 6, 4 Dispatchers, 4 Local Government IMT Overhead, 2 Local Government Swift Water Rescue Teams
El Dorado County (Caldor Burn Scar): 3 Local Government Engines Type 3, 1 OES Engine Type 3, 2 Local Government IMT Overhead, 2 Local Government Swift Water Rescue
Butte County: 1 Local Government Swift Water Rescue Team, 2 Local Government IMT Overhead
Marin County: 1 Regional Task Force, 1 Swift Water Rescue Team, 2 Dispatchers, 1 Local Government Loader with Transport
Sacramento County: 5 OES Engines Type 3, 2 Local Government Helicopters, 4 Dispatchers, 14 Local Government IMT Overhead, 1 OES Swift Water Rescue, 1 Local Government US&R Company
Santa Barbara County: 1 Local Government Rescue Task Force, 8 Local Government IMT Overhead,1 Local Government Excavator, 1 Local Government Loader, 1 Local Government Road Grader, 1 Local Government Dispatcher
Stanislaus County: 3 Local Government Engines Type 3, 1 Local Government Loader with Transport, 1 Local Government Dispatcher, 16 Local Government IMT Overhead
The National Weather Service is forecasting widespread heavy rainfall for large portions of the state with concerns for debris flows from recent burn scars. Damaging winds and the heaviest rainfall begins Wednesday and extends into Thursday. Residual flooding impacts could linger into the weekend before another potentially impactful storm returns early next week.
The public is urged to be on the lookout for potential flooding and mudslides in areas recently burned by wildfires. A debris flow can take homes off their foundations and carry items such as vegetation, large boulders, and cars. If you live near or downslope of burn areas, you should have a plan to quickly evacuate your community if flash flooding or a mudslide were to happen. Learn more about being flood aware here.
For more from Cal OES, visit CalOES.ca.gov and follow us on Twitter @Cal_OES.