With multiple weather systems bringing rain across the state, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has strategically prepositioned critical resources including fire engines, hand crews, dozers, dispatchers, IMT members, one swift water rescue team, one rescue task force and one helicopter in four counties – Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, El Dorado and Kern.
The prepositioned resources include:
Santa Barbara County: Alisal Fire Burn Scar
- 2 Local Government Type 3 Engines,
- 2 Local Government Type 1 Dozers
- 1 Local Government Type 1 Crew
- 1 Dispatcher
- 5 IMT Members
Santa Cruz County: CZU Fire Burn Scar
- 1 Local Government Rescue Task Force
El Dorado County: Caldor Fire Burn Scar
- 1 Local Government Type 3 Engine
- 2 Local Government Type 6 Engines
- 1 Cal OES Swift Water Rescue Team
Kern County: French Fire Burn Scar
- 5 Local Government Type 3 Engines
- 2 Local Government Type 1 Dozers
- 1 Local Government Type 1 Helicopter
- 1 Local Government Type 1 Crew
- 1 Dispatcher
- 6 IMT Members
The National Weather Service is forecasting widespread heavy rainfall for large portions of the State with concerns for debris flows from recent burn scars. A second stronger atmospheric river storm is expected Sunday with more widespread statewide impacts. Visit the National Weather Service website for more information on this weather event.
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 things like 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.