State Health & Emergency Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts
Date: March 8, 2020 Number: NR20-015 State has released updated guidance for schools, colleges, large public events, employers, workers and elder care/congregate living facilities to prepare and protect Californians from COVID-19 Updated guidance builds off existing...
Update on Grand Princess Cruise Ship
SACRAMENTO – The State of California has been working in partnership with the federal government to aid in the safe return of passengers from the Grand Princess. The entire mission is centered around protecting the health of the passengers, and ensuring that...
FEMA Approves Funding to Remove Hazard Trees on Eligible Private Roadways Within the Camp Fire Burn Scar
Butte County and the Town of Paradise recently received notification that FEMA approved public assistance funding for the removal of Hazard Trees rooted on private property that are a threat to fall into public and eligible private roads traveled by the public. The...
Governor Newsom Declares State of Emergency to Help State Prepare for Broader Spread of COVID-19
Emergency proclamation builds on work already underway across state government to protect public health and safety Proclamation includes increased protections against price gouging, offers more assistance to local governments and allows health care workers to come...
Grass Roots Radio Solves Rural NorCal Community’s Disaster Communication Quandary, “Live Prepared Not Scared”
Residents living in one rural Northern California community were tired of feeling helpless during recent wildfires and public safety power shutoffs. They didn’t have the ability to communicate with friends or loved ones because cell service, land lines and...
Cal OES Taps Beth Cousins as New Chief Information Officer
Beth Cousins, a former city Deputy Chief Information Officer in Minnesota, was hired as the new Chief Information Officer at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), ending a five-month national recruitment. She replaces Carla Simmons,...
Podcast #73: “Athleticism” is a Self-Imposed Requirement for Success in Disaster Logistics
In this episode (#73) we talk with Cal OES Deputy Director Mitch Medigovich, who oversees the Logistics Management Directorate. We concentrate on some of the more recent incidents Logistics have been challenged by including the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), the...
SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to California Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Severe Storms and Flooding
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses economically impacted by the severe storms and flooding in San Bernardino County that occurred Nov. 27 – Dec. 1, 2019, SBA...
Neighbor Helping Neighbor: California Continues to Support Puerto Rico During Recovery Efforts
Nearly one month ago, more than three dozen California disaster specialists boarded flights headed to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Their mission: use their experience and expertise to help Puerto Rico after a 6.4 earthquake hit the island causing widespread damage,...
Paradise Opens Full-Service Resource Center to Assist Camp Fire Survivors
The Town of Paradise has opened the doors of its Building Resiliency Center (BRC) to address the needs of residents of Butte County impacted by the devastating Camp Fire of November 2018. The BRC, or “Brick” as it’s been nicknamed, hosts representatives from different...Warning: Undefined variable $caweb_first_video in /bitnami/wordpress/wp-content/themes/CAWeb-1.13.0/index.php on line 48
Active Shooter Training: Behind The Scenes With First Responders
WARNING: This video may not be suitable for young viewers. The call comes in: Shots fired on a crowded campus. For First Responders, every split second decision can be a matter of life or death. Come inside two separate Active Shooter Training exercises to get a...
New Grant Opportunity for Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention Program Available from Cal OES
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is offering a new grant opportunity for the Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention Program The purpose of the Program is to expand sexual and domestic violence prevention efforts in California,...
Governor Newsom Announces Appointments of Christina Curry, Tabitha Stout
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments: Christina Curry, 50, of Elk Grove, has been appointed chief deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Curry has been deputy director for planning,...
Podcast #72: Helen Lopez Leads Cal OES Behind and Beyond the California Borders Via International Affairs
This episode takes a closer look at how the International Affairs Office, at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, is the central hub for matters of international policy and guidelines, working relationships and special international projects. As the...
Cal OES and US Navy Exercise to Ensure Mutual Understanding and Interoperability for Potential Emergency Radiological Response
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) recently had an opportunity to engage with the US Navy and other local, state and federal agencies, for a tabletop exercise related to a radiological scenario. This was a follow-up to a full scale exercise two...
FEMA Funds Earthquake Safety for Los Angeles Hospital
Oakland, CA. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $1.7 million to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the City of Los Angeles to ensure Good Samaritan Hospital’s Emergency Department can deliver...
One Month Left to Apply for SBA Disaster Loans
Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West today reminded California private nonprofit organizations of the Feb. 18, 2020, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for...
FEMA Grants $20M to California to Increase Earthquake Protection
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted $20 million to the State of California for its Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program. The grant will subsidize the work of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the California...
Cal OES Hosts One-Day Hiring Event
Cal OES Recovery Branch is recruiting for multiple permanent/full-time Disaster Assistance Program Specialists vacancies. We will be hosting a One-Day Interview Event on Saturday, February 15. One-Day Interview Event Saturday, February 15th...
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Cal OES Is Offering A New Grant Opportunity for the Supervised Visitation Program
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is offering a new grant opportunity for the Supervised Visitation Program (SP). The purpose of the SP Program is to assure the safety and protection of children by supporting professional providers...
Cal OES Is Offering Two New Grant Opportunities
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is offering two new grant opportunities in the transfer of Knowledge Program (KO) and the Special Needs School Transportation Camera (SN) Program. The purpose of the KO Program is to...Governor Newsom Deploys Incident Support Team to Aid Response to Catastrophic Earthquakes in Puerto Rico
Updated at 1600 hours, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020. In the aftermath of another large magnitude earthquake this morning in Puerto Rico, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the deployment of 35 disaster specialists to assist the island to rebuild and recover. A series of...
CalVCB Announces Funding Availability for Trauma Recovery Centers
The California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) today posted a Notice of Funds Available for Trauma Recovery Centers (TRCs). The funding is for fiscal years 2020-21 and 2021-22. TRCs provide trauma-informed mental health treatment and case management to...
Montecito Mudslides Anniversary, Reflections Through Images
As the anniversary of the devastating mudslides in Montecito, Calif., is upon us we want to remember the lives lost and the toll taken on their families and community. Residents were awoken in the pre-dawn hours of Jan. 9, 2018, to the horrifying sound of mud and...
California Sends Urban Search and Rescue Team Members to Support Emergency Response to Earthquake in Puerto Rico
At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Governor Gavin Newsom through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has approved the deployment of four members of California-based Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task...
California Homeland Security Advisor, Director of Emergency Services Issues Statement on State Threat Assessments
The following is a statement from Mark Ghilarducci, the director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the Homeland Security Advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Director Ghilarducci oversees statewide public safety, emergency management,...
California Certifies Statewide Programmatic Environmental Impact Review to Protect Californians from Catastrophic Wildfires
California has a new tool in its efforts to build wildfire resilience and improve long-term forest management in the face of climate change. The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has certified a new program that will help minimize wildland fire risk...
Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order to Support Communities Recovering from Wildfires
Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order to further assist communities across the state recovering from devastating wildfires dating back to 2017. The order extends the state’s prohibition on price gouging for Butte, Los Angeles, Mendocino,...
Podcast #71: Cal OES Legal Chief Alex Pal Sets High Bar to Help Ensure a Resilient California
In this episode, Cal OES Chief Counsel Alex Pal sits down with host Shawn Boyd at headquarters to talk about the role he and his office played during a few recent California emergencies, and the importance legal affairs plays as a whole. Alex was appointed to this...
Governor Newsom Announces Appointment of Cal OES Assistant Director of Hazard Mitigation
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointment: Jennifer Hogan, 40, of Sacramento, has been appointed assistant director of hazard mitigation at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Hogan has served as hazard mitigation...
One Month Left to Apply for SBA Disaster Loans
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West today reminded California businesses and residents of the Jan. 17, 2020, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for...
Podcast #70: Tribal Affairs Before, During and After Disasters with Denise Shemenski
Denise Shemenski is the tribal advisor for Cal OES. The purpose of the Office of Tribal Coordination is to improve and maintain communication and collaboration between California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and all Native American Tribes in...Cal OES, SFDEM and Silicon Valley Disaster Working Group Host Disaster Response Forum; Align Leaders in Tech with Government Response Agencies and Nonprofit Organizations
Individuals from across Northern California representing local government, first responders, nonprofit organizations and technology companies including Facebook, Airbnb, and Google joined California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) last week to...
SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center to Close in Santa Rosa
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West announced today that SBA will close its Santa Rosa Disaster Loan Outreach Center at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. “SBA opened the...
State, County Continue Coordination Following Kincade Fire
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and Sonoma County have maintained a strong relationship since the 2017 wildfires and have continued building on the coordination and lessons learned following those events, which help facilitate recovery...
One Month Left to Apply for SBA Disaster Loans
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West today reminded private nonprofit organizations in the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians of the Dec. 26, 2019, deadline to...
Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci Secures Fire Management Assistance Grant to Assist Response Agencies Battling Cave Fire in Santa Barbara County
SACRAMENTO – California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Director Mark Ghilarducci, secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help ensure the availability of vital resources to...
One Month Left to Apply for SBA Disaster Loans
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West today reminded California businesses and residents of the Dec. 24, 2019, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for...
Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order to Support Communities Recovering from October Fires
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order to help streamline recovery efforts in communities across the state impacted by last month’s devastating fires. The executive order helps displaced residents with housing needs...
One Month Left to Apply for SBA Disaster Loans
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West today reminded California small businesses of the Dec. 23, 2019, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic...
Increased Staffing and Pre-Positioned Firefighting Resources in Preparation for Strong Winds
Sacramento – Both CAL FIRE and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services are preparing for the potential Critical Fire Weather for areas of Northern California. The National Weather Service is predicting gustyand...
State of California, Partners Commitment to Camp Fire Recovery
In the early morning of November 8th, 2018, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history ignited in Northern California. Named after its point of origin along Camp Creek Road, the Camp Fire spread quickly as the winds tossed hot embers into the...
Podcast: Access and Functional Needs Concerns Met During Recent California Emergencies
In this episode of All Hazards (#69) we talk with Vance Taylor; he’s the chief of the Office of Access and Functional Needs at Cal OES. Topics of conversation include the importance of partnerships, issues and concerns related to AFN that come up during nearly every...Brian Marshall Reappointed as Cal OES Fire and Rescue Chief
Today, Governor Gavin Newsom reappointed Brian Marshall as the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Fire and Rescue Chief. He was initially appointed to his new position in December 2018. Chief Marshall spent the previous six years as the...
EDD available to provide in-person assistance to victims of wildfires and related conditions whose jobs were impacted
SACRAMENTO – Representatives with the Employment Development Department (EDD) are providing assistance with unemployment insurance claims and other services at new Local Assistance Centers (LACs) opened to provide disaster victims easy access to support resources....
Employment Development Department encourages individuals to apply for unemployment benefits
Standard one-week waiting period has been waived in wildfire and power shutdown areas, so people can apply immediately SACRAMENTO – Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s waiving of the one-week waiting period to apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI), the Employment...
Governor Secures FMAG to Assist Response Agencies Battling the Maria Fire in Ventura County
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the Maria Fire burning in Ventura County. The FMAG also enables...