Governor Gavin Newsom announced the deployment of new swiftwater rescue vehicles, boats and specialized equipment to 13 local fire departments across California, part of an effort to strengthen the state’s preparedness for flooding and other water emergencies ahead of the winter storm season.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is replacing and modernizing equipment for all 13 teams participating in the state’s Swiftwater Rescue Program. Staffed by specially trained local government firefighters, the teams respond to emergencies in their home communities while also serving as a statewide resource when additional assistance is needed elsewhere.
That dual role is an important part of California’s emergency response system. During an incident that exceeds a community’s local capacity, swiftwater teams can be deployed through the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System to assist with flash floods, flooded roads, fast-moving rivers and other dangerous water emergencies.
Each of the state’s upgraded Type 1 Swiftwater Rescue Teams will receive new heavy-duty, four-wheel-drive tow vehicles and rescue trailers, along with two motorized inflatable rescue boats. The equipment packages also include updated personal protective equipment, specialized swiftwater rescue tools and other modern equipment intended to help firefighters work more safely and effectively during complex rescue operations.
The upgrades are intended to improve both local preparedness and the resources available through mutual aid during larger emergencies.
The announcement comes as the state prepares for the potential effects of an El Niño-driven storm season. El Niño is associated with unusually warm ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific that can alter weather and precipitation patterns. While it does not guarantee a wet winter or determine the effects of individual storms, it can contribute to conditions capable of producing heavy rain, flooding, landslides, debris flows, coastal flooding and other hazards in California.
The swiftwater investments are one component of a broader state effort to strengthen disaster preparedness and response. California has also recently modernized its State Operations Center and is expanding access to satellite-based disaster intelligence.
Through an agreement between Cal OES and satellite-imaging company ICEYE, emergency managers will have access to near-real-time information about floods, wildfires and other disasters, including observations collected through clouds, smoke and darkness. According to the Governor’s Office, the technology can help officials identify areas experiencing flooding, estimate water depths and evaluate potential impacts to homes, roads and critical infrastructure.
The information is expected to be incorporated into statewide emergency operations and shared with state agencies and local emergency managers to help officials develop a common picture of conditions during significant incidents and prioritize response resources.
Together, the investments are intended to connect improved situational awareness and statewide coordination with equipment and trained personnel positioned in local communities.
For California’s communities, the new swiftwater equipment provides an additional resource close to home while strengthening the statewide mutual aid network that allows trained personnel and specialized equipment to move to areas where they are most needed during an emergency.
