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Emergency Response and Disaster Preparedness Home
Emergency response and recovery for Cal/EPA is coordinated through the Emergency Response Management Committee (ERMAC), comprised of members from each board, department, and office. For more information, please visit our Contacts page.
Current Response and Preparedness Activities
Bay Area Oil Spill | Southern California Fires | Past Responses
Bay Area Oil Spill
On Wednesday, November 7, a Chinese container ship, the Cosco Busan, struck a support tower of the Bay Bridge. The bridge was not damaged, but the ship released an estimated 58,000 gallons of fuel oil into the San Francisco Bay. The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) determined that the spill affected waters west of the Carquinez Bridge and a three-mile-wide stretch of the Pacific Coast between the Point Reyes Lighthouse in Marin County and San Pedro Point in San Mateo County.
In response, Governor Schwarzenegger suspended all fishing and directed OEHHA, in consultation with the California Department of Public Health, to make a determination about the health risk posed by eating fish and other seafood caught in the impacted area. After extensive sampling and analysis, OEHHA found no increase in contaminants in seafood caught in the oil spill area except in mussels. The fishing suspension will be lifted December 1. However, OEHHA will be releasing a fish advisory for mussels.
Information about safety at area beaches, guidelines for sport fishers, an interim fish advisory, and sampling and analysis of affected fish, crabs, and mussels are available at the OEHHA website.
Report on the safety of consuming fish and shellfish from areas impacted by the M/V Cosco Busan oil spill in San Francisco Bay, California.
Information about the areas impacted by the oil spill, beach closures, and efforts to rescue wildlife are available at the Department of Fish and Game website.
By the numbers (11/27/07):
- Counties affected – 5
- Personnel responding – 881
- Responder injuries to date – 22
- Total oil discharged – 53,570 to 58,000 gallons
- Cubic yards of oily solids recovered – 2438
- Live oiled birds captured to date – 1059
- Deceased birds collected – 1591
- Birds released to date – 193
- Beaches closed – 18
- Personnel at the Oiled Wildlife Care Network – 100 volunteers and 19 paid staff
Southern California Fires
On October 21, 2007, a series of wildfires began burning across Southern California. The fires, fueled by drought conditions and Santa Ana winds in excess of 60 mph, engulfed wide stretches of land from Santa Barbara to the US-Mexico border. There was an unprecedented evacuation of close to half a million residents in the affected areas, with San Diego County being severely impacted. Governor Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in seven California counties and President Bush concurred with a federal declaration of emergency.
The recovery efforts are now well underway, with hazardous material and debris removal, as well as multiple efforts to assist residents, prevent erosion, and protect drinking water sources from contamination.
By the numbers (11/03/07):
- Confirmed fatalities – 9
- Reported injuries – 139
- 8,884 firefighters responded
- 18 fires in 7 counties
- Total acres burned – 517,267, or approximately 800 square miles
- Structures destroyed – 3204
- Structures damaged – 436
More information is found on the Fire Response and Recovery page.
Past Responses
Lake Tahoe/Angora Fire (Updated November 2007)
The debris removal from properties affected by the Angora Fire was completed ahead of schedule on October 25, 2007. The debris removal and sampling of properties affected by the Angora Fire was completed ahead of schedule. There was 100 percent participation by property owners, and an unprecedented 22,000 man-hours without a single worker injury. Continuing recovery efforts include implementation of erosion-control measures and removal of burned trees on much of the affected property.
By
the numbers (as of 8/24/07):
- 5,700 tons of concrete delivered for recycling
- 48,680 tons of ash and rubble for disposal
- 257 homes requiring debris removal
- 257 sites with complete debris removal
- 246 sites in the sampling confirmation stage
- 161 sites with sample results approved
The model for citizen-local-state cooperative efforts for debris removal from the Angora Fire is being applied to the recovery efforts for the October 2007 firestorm in Southern California. More information is available on the Fire Response and Recovery website or by emailing emergresponse@calepa.ca.gov.
Sacramento Trestle Fire (Updated August 2007)
In March 2007, a wooden train trestle caught fire northeast of downtown Sacramento, California. The fire engulfed approximately 1300 feet creosote-treated wood ties and structural beams and continued to burn uncontained for 48 hours. The smoke was heavy at times and contained some potentially dangerous chemicals and particulates. In response to a request by the Sacramento air district, OEHHA and ARB identified the major potential health impacts during the fire. Their analysis is now available from the OEHHA emergency response website.
Latest Information on Emergencies:
Information on Preparing for an Emergency:
California Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.calepa.ca.gov
General Public Contact, cepacomm@calepa.ca.gov (916) 323-2514
Technical Contact, webmaster@calepa.ca.gov