Cal OES highlights need for disaster readiness at ‘Preparedness Month’ event
Agency showcases new tools it can deploy in emergency situations
MATHER, Calif. —
Emergency managers at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) shared how they’re getting ready in advance of major wildfires, earthquakes or other destructive events, be they human or nature-caused.
At a media tour of Cal OES resources Thursday, the agency showcased the tools it has at its disposal.
The resources tour is part of Preparedness Month, a campaign observed at the national, state and local levels.
“We’re out here, reminding California that they can take simple steps to be ready, but we’re also showcasing everything we do behind the scenes,” said Matt Notley, Cal OES Deputy Director of Crisis Communication.
The easiest first-step people can take to prepare for disasters, Notley explained, is to sign up for emergency alerts through the Cal Alerts notification system. Cal Alerts is a nation-wide system providing lifesaving information for the State of California, according to Cal OES.
KCRA 3 also toured the California State Warning Center Mobile Command Unit. It’s 53-foot center on wheels that allows emergency managers to handle crisis situations, wherever they may happen, with no lapses in the notifications put forth by Cal OES’s permanent center.
“This unit gives us the ability to provide the life-saving notifications that we are required to provide to the state of California 24/7-365, regardless of power outages, network outages, any impacts to headquarters where we are actually housed now with the California State Warning Center,” said Paul Benvenuti, Cal OES State Warning Center operations manager. “We can deploy the unit anywhere, anytime, any place, and have the full capabilities that we have in the warning center currently.”
Cal OES also highlighted how it works with different agencies and entities across the state during disasters. From fire and rescue to law enforcement and community-based groups, Cal OES partners with regional and local partners as it responds to disasters.
“Those that might need a little extra help, that’s where Ready California comes in to bridge that gap and make sure that everyone’s getting the resources they need to be prepared,” said Cal OES public information officer Davina Mapes.
Visit here to learn more about Ready California’s regional preparedness summits, where community-based organizations host grassroots gatherings to “mobilize disaster preparedness and resilience statewide.”
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