State to Mobilize Flood Outreach Effort to One Million Californians

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Governor Newsom Announces Multi-Language, People-Powered Pilot Program to Engage Over 1 Million People in Flood-Threatened Communities

This adds to the all-in state effort to help communities on the ground following extreme storms

SACRAMENTO – Working rapidly to protect Californians and stay one-step ahead of future flooding driven by record snowpack, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced a new comprehensive, multi-language grassroots outreach effort to engage more than 1 million Californians in high-risk areas.

Through Listos California, a program of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the state will mobilize teams of phone-bankers to conduct direct outreach to Californians living in high-risk flood areas in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Bernardino and Tulare counties.

“Whether it is on the phone, at a community gathering or at their door, having meaningful contact with Californians is how we empower our communities to keep themselves and their families safe from disasters,” said Governor Newsom.

Modeled after a campaign-style “Get Out the Vote” effort, Californians in the target counties will receive information and resources in English, Spanish, Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese or Mandarin, depending on their language. The calls will include flood awareness and preparedness information while encouraging residents to sign up for local emergency notifications and offering suggestions on how best to prepare for, respond to and recover from flooding should it be necessary.

When reached by telephone, Californians will speak directly with someone who will clearly identify themselves and state the purpose of the call. There is no charge to the individual for recommended services and there are strict measures in place to ensure confidentiality of personal information.

This outreach effort comes at a time when the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) has measured that statewide snowpack is at 237 percent of average. The runoff from that snowpack combined with rivers, reservoirs and watersheds that are already swollen from previous rainfall has created dangerous conditions in many parts of the state.

“While we are under blue skies today significant danger remains in many parts of our state. It is critical that Californians understand their risk and take steps to prepare themselves for possible flooding that could continue well into the summer months,” said Cal OES Director Nancy Ward.

Local Alerts

For Californians residing in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Bernardino and Tulare counties, they can register for emergency alert information below:

Fresno County

Kern County

Tulare County

Kings County

Madera County

  • MC Alert
  • Text your zip code to “888777” to register your number for alerts in your area.

Mariposa County

Merced County

San Bernardino County

Ongoing Comprehensive State Response

California has weathered more than a dozen atmospheric rivers since late December. This outreach effort builds upon the state’s on-the-ground response and recovery efforts that have involved nearly every state agency and department. A partial list of ongoing response and recovery resources includes:

  • Local Assistance Centers and Disaster Recovery Centers have opened in nearly every disaster-declared county, offering direct access to state, local, non-profit and federal programs. Everyone is welcome, regardless of immigration status. For the latest information, please visit news.caloes.ca.gov
  • Residents and business owners who sustained losses in Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, San Bernardino, Santa Cruz, Tulare and Tuolumne counties can begin applying for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 TTY.
  • Disaster Case Management is available in all counties with a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration, approved for Individual Assistance. Administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and provided by Catholic Charities, DCM will be able to assist people who apply for Individual Assistance. Undocumented immigrants are also eligible for Disaster Case Management and could be referred to available programs. https://www.cccdcmp.org/
  • Supporting undocumented workers and communities ineligible for FEMA individual assistance due to immigration status, CDSS is identifying local partners to provide disaster recovery services to immigrant Californians experiencing the ongoing impacts of floods and recent weather events. These efforts also include ensuring mixed-status families are accessing federal and state resources that they may be eligible for.
  • CDSS is distributing the state’s Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Californians (English version) (Spanish version), regardless of immigration status, within impacted communities.
  • The Labor and Workforce Development Agency is coordinating with local partners and nonprofits to identify support that residents in affected counties may need, including distributing information on disaster assistance for immigrants, how to access interpreter services for outreach to Indigenous communities and ongoing efforts to drive resources through community organizations that are mobilizing to provide assistance.

About Listos California

In addition to this phone-banking project, Listos California has developed hundreds of downloadable resources in multiple languages related to disaster preparedness, response and recovery, including videos, social media graphics, flyers, one pagers and quick guides and Indigenous language videos on general preparedness and flooding.

Anchored at Cal OES since 2019, Listos California works to establish more resilient communities and help all Californians  prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters.