California is deploying new swiftwater rescue vehicles, boats, and specialized equipment to 13 local fire departments across the state ahead of a potentially significant El Niño-driven storm season, Governor Gavin Newsom announced.
The upgrades will modernize California's Swiftwater Rescue Teams, which can be deployed through the state's mutual aid system to support communities facing flash flooding, flooded roadways, fast-moving rivers, and other water emergencies.
Each upgraded rescue team will receive new heavy-duty, four-wheel-drive tow vehicles capable of transporting rescue trailers during hazardous weather; new rescue trailers designed to rapidly move equipment to incidents; two motorized inflatable rescue boats; updated personal protective equipment for firefighters; specialized rescue tools; and modern technology to help rescuers operate safely in dangerous conditions.
Federal forecasters predict a greater than 90 percent chance of a very strong El Niño event this fall and winter, with a 75 percent chance it could reach historic strength, according to the state. For California, that can mean repeated rounds of heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, flooding, landslides, debris flows, and coastal flooding.
California has already experienced coastal flooding attributed to El Niño this year, the state said. The Governor also announced new disaster intelligence satellite capabilities and a modernized State Operations Center to help coordinate storm response.