The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is strategically prepositioning swift water resources and firefighting personnel statewide as a series of severe winter storms continue to impact California. Resources are currently deployed to 19 counties across the state, along with additional personnel stationed at eight fire departments.
The prepositioned resources include:
Prepositioned at Ukiah Fire Department: OES: Fresno City Fire Department Swift Water Rescue TF 19
Prepositioned at Lathrop/Manteca Fire Department: OES: Lathrop/Manteca Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team 13
Prepositioned at Oakland Fire Department: OES: Oakland Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team 4
Prepositioned at Los Angeles City Fire Department: OES: Los Angeles City Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team 1
Prepositioned at Los Angeles County Fire Department: OES: Los Angeles County Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team 2
Prepositioned at Orange County Fire Authority: OES: Orange County Fire Authority Swift Water Rescue Team 5
Prepositioned at Riverside Fire Department: OES: Riverside Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team 6
Prepositioned at Ventura County Fire Department: OES: Ventura County Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team 10
Los Angeles County: 1 Local Government Dozer Type 1, 1 Local Government Helicopter, 1 Local Government Hand Crew Type 1, 1 Local Government Dispatcher
Orange County: 5 Local Government Engines Type 3, 1 Local Government Dozer, 1 Local Government Helicopter, 1 Local Government Hand Crew Type 2
Santa Barbara County (Thomas/Alisal/Cave Fire Scars): 1 CalOES US&R Rescue Task Force, 7 Local Government Engines Type 3, 1 Local Government Helicopter, 12 Local Government IMT Overhead, 1 Local Government Excavator, 1 Local Government Loader, 1 Local Government Road Grader
Ventura County: 1 Local Government Dozer, 1 Local Government Hand Crew Type 1, 1 Local Government Dispatcher
Alameda County: 5 OES Engines Type 3, 1 Local Government Dispatcher
Contra Costa County: 5 Local Government Engines Type 3, 1 Local Government Engine Type 6, 1 Local Government Hand Crew Type 2, 8 Local Government IMT Overhead, 2 Local Government Dispatchers, 2 Local Government Swift Water Rescue Teams
Lake County (August Complex Fire Scar): 1 Local Government Engine Type 2, 3 Local Government Engine Type 3, 1 Local Government Engine Type 6, 2 Local Government IMT Overhead
Monterey County: 1 Local Government Engine Task Force: 1 Type 1 Engine, 3 Type 3 Engines,, 2 Type 6 Engines, 1 Local Government Swift Water Rescue (MNL Team 3), 10 Local Government IMT Overhead
San Francisco County: 5 OES Engines Type 6, 3 Local Government IMT Overhead
Sonoma County (Tubbs/Glass/August Fire Scars): 3 Local Government Engines Type 3, 2 Local Government Engines Type 6, 2 Local Government Dispatchers, 4 Local Government IMT Overhead, 1 Local Government Helicopter, 1 Local Government Swift Water Rescue Teams, 1 Local Government Loader with Transport
Butte County: 1 Local Government Swift Water Rescue Team, 2 Local Government IMT Overhead, 1 Dispatcher
Sutter County: 5 Local Government Engines Type 6, 2 Local Government IMT Overhead
Calaveras County (Butte/Electra Fire Scars): 5 Local Government Engines Type 3, 2 Local Government Engines Type 6, 1 Local Government Swift Water Rescue Team, 4 Local Government IMT Overhead
San Joaquin County: 2 Local Government Engines Type 3, 1 Local Government Engine Type 1, 3 Local Government IMT Overhead
Stanislaus County: 3 Local Government Engines Type 3, 1 Local Government Loader with Transport, 1 Local Government Dispatcher, 16 Local Government IMT Overhead
Fresno County: 1 Local Government Swift Water Team, 2 Local Government Engines Type 2, 1 Local Government IMT Overhead
Merced County: 2 Local Government Swift Water Team (Bakersfield Swift Water Rescue TF11, San Diego Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team 8)
Tulare County: 1 Local Government Swift Water Rescue Team, 18 Local Government IMT Overhead
San Bernardino County: 2 Local Government Swift Water Teams, 1 Local Government Hand Crew Type 2IA, 1 Local Government Loader with Transport, 3 Local Government IMT Overhead, 1 Local Government Dispatcher
With a brief lull today across most of California, another strong winter storm resumes on Friday with significant rainfall and snow and extends through the weekend. The National Weather Service is forecasting the heaviest rainfall and snow on Saturday. Drier weather is ahead for later in the week, but not before this weekend’s storm could bring threats of renewed flooding and debris flow.
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.