January 9, 2023 - As a significant winter storm continues to pound California with damaging winds and heavy rainfall, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is strategically prepositioning critical swift water resources and personnel near burn scar areas and in communities with potential for major flooding.

The prepositioned resources include:

Prepositioned at El Dorado Hills Fire Department: OES: Bakersfield City Fire Department Swift Water Rescue TF 11

Prepositioned at Ukiah Fire Department: OES:  Fresno City Fire Department Swift Water Rescue TF 19

Prepositioned at Menlo Park Fire Department: OES: Menlo Park Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team 3

Prepositioned at Lathrop/Manteca Fire Department: OES:  Lathrop/Manteca Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team 13

Prepositioned at El Dorado Hills Fire Department: OES: San Diego Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team 8

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

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

Santa Barbara County (Thomas/Alisal/Cave Fire Scars): 1 CalOES US&R Rescue Task Force, 2 Local Government Engine 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 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

Marin County: 1 Local Government Loader with Transport, 2 Local Government Dispatchers, 8 Local Government IMT Overhead, 1 CalOES US&R Rescue Task Force, 1 Local Government Swift Water Rescue Team

Monterey County: 1 Local Government Engine Task Force: 1 Type 1 Engine,3 Type 3 Engines, 2 Type 6 Engines, 8 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, 4 Dispatchers, 4 Local Government IMT Overhead, 1 Local Government Helicopter, 2 Local Government Swift Water Rescue Teams, 2 Local Government Loader with Transport

Butte County: 1 Local Government Swift Water Rescue Team, 2 Local Government IMT Overhead, 1 Dispatcher

Amador County: 3 Local Government Engines Type 3, 1 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

El Dorado County (Caldor/Mosquito Fire Scars): 4 Local Government Engines Type 3, 1 OES Engine Type 3, 3 Local Government IMT Overhead, 2 Local Government Swift Water Rescue Teams

Nevada County: 2 OES Engines Type 6

Placer County: 4 Local Government Engines Type 3, 1 Local Government Engine Type 1, 1 Local Government Swift Water Rescue Team, 3 Local Government IMT Overhead

Sacramento County: 5 OES Engines Type 3, 2 Local Government Helicopters, 4 Dispatchers, 14 Local Government IMT Overhead, 1 OES Swift Water Rescue Team, 1 Local Government US&R Company

San Joaquin County: 3 Local Government Engines Type 3, 1 Local Government Engine Type 1, 4 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

The National Weather Service is forecasting widespread heavy rainfall for large portions of the state with concerns for debris flows from recent burn scars and potential for major flooding. Another round in a series of storms could resume later in the week with potential for renewed flooding.

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.
Source: Cal OES