California is preparing for the strongest El Niño season on record after adopting advanced satellite technology capable of accelerating disaster intelligence delivery statewide and reopening the State Operations Center at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
Increased disaster severity and frequency have pushed the boundaries of state response and recovery, requiring governments to pursue innovative solutions and strategies to safeguard communities, infrastructure and resources. California is a hotspot for natural disasters, fueling investments in new capabilities for coordinating resources effectively and supporting communities through all stages of pre- and post-disaster response and recovery.
The satellite technology investments will enable Cal OES to observe disaster damage from space, providing clearer perspectives for almost real-time communication for floods, wildfires and other events. Able to work through obscuring conditions – clouds, smoke, darkness, dust, etc. – satellite imagery will empower emergency managers to estimate water depths and identify flooding damage and extent to homes, roads and infrastructure.
Amplifying the state’s ability to have a clear understanding of ground conditions during severe storms and cloudy weather will bolster coordination efforts among the state’s emergency operations. Once fully integrated, state agencies and local emergency managers will use satellites to coordinate efforts and function with a common operating picture. Creating a unified understanding of conditions during natural disasters accelerates efforts to support impacted communities, align response resources and assess damage and recovery priorities.
In its ongoing effort to enhance coordination and communication, the state has also opened its new State Operations Center, establishing a modern centralized coordinating hub for public safety. The center will be staffed by CAL OES and other state government partners as it manages and directs strategic response, situational awareness and assuring continuity of government during emergencies.
All disaster information will run through the center, including the new satellite imagery. Centralizing emergency response through the hub is critical for maintaining a common operating picture, ensuring that all operators are working off the same understanding of severe weather impacts and rapidly changing conditions. Going forward, the State Operations Center will be the go-to manager for directing mutual aid, tracking local needs and distributing personnel and equipment where they will have the greatest impact.
The new facility replaced the previous 26-year-old structure, expanding the site’s footprint and capabilities while adding 73 permanent positions to fill out the center’s workforce. These new employees helped establish a dedicated Incident Support Team and a deployable Incident Management Assistance Team. Other improvements yielded through the project include:
- Increased operational seating from 54 to 64 positions.
- Expanded second-floor workspace.
- Created an ADA-accessible, flat-floor operations space.
- Upgraded the State Warning Center.
- Replacement of an aging technology wall.
According to federal forecasters, this year’s El Niño is projected to be among the strongest in the state’s history. Currently, there is a greater than 90 percent chance of a very strong event this fall and winter, only further escalated by the 75 percent chance that it will reach historic strength. Californian residents should anticipate severe, damaging weather including heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, flooding, landslides, debris flows, large waves and coastal flooding.
With the recent disaster response investments, the state is more prepared to face El Niño than ever. However, damage is still expected with inclement weather causing severe property damage, closed roads and power outages with fast-changing conditions. Residents are encouraged to prepare ahead of time by signing up for alerts, staying informed, having evacuation plans and understanding local flood risks.
Photo by Alexis B from Pexels
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