Despite a slight cooling trend, high temperatures are expected to continue throughout the week around California, with triple digits expected in some areas. Typically, the Central Valley is hit the hardest. In fact, the searing heat that hovered in July 2006 was especially brutal as it was blamed for 140 deaths in the state, 45 of those in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. There was a reported spike in emergency room visits by more than 16,000 across the Central Valley during the ten-day period when temperatures were above 100.
So be sure to heed warnings from local and state officials; it could save a life, maybe yours.
Tips to Prevent Heat Related Illness
Never leave infants, children or the frail elderly unattended in a parked car.
Drink plenty of fluids. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty.
Vacation season is officially here. While there’s lots to see and do here in the U.S., many travelers choose to spend that well-deserved time off in another country. Before you get on that airplane to head overseas, here are five things every international traveler should know:
1. Check U.S. Department of State Alerts and Warnings. Are there current alerts and warnings for the country you are visiting? Click here.
2. Understand the difference between a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning and Travel Alert. The U.S. Department of State issues a Travel Warning when they want travelers to consider carefully travelling to a country at all and is more serious than an alert. A Travel Alert is issued for short-term events that should be kept in mind when planning travel. Click here.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, in conjunction with Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, produced a series of public service announcements to remind people just how dangerous backyard pools can be. On June 16th, 2017, the agencies held a media event poolside at California Family Fitness in Rancho Cordova to officially launch the PSAs.
Below are all six version of the PSA — three in English, and the same three in Spanish.
In this episode (28) we talk with Bill Potter, Senior Emergency Services Coordinator for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. He’s been with Cal OES for 15 years, all with the Radiological Preparedness Unit as lead for the Nuclear Power Plant program.
In 1979, following the accident at Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, the California State Legislature mandated that the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), together with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and affected counties, investigate the consequences of a serious nuclear power plant accident. Based on site-specific studies in 1980, Emergency Planning Zones (EPZ) around the plant sites were established in detail and integrated plans were developed. Legislation mandating the NPP program has been continuous since 1979, enacted as Government Code and Health and Safety Code sections, called the Radiation Protection Act.
Bill Potter Instructs Diablo Canyon Ingestion Pathway Exercise Participants
The Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Program covers emergency planning issues related to the State’s one operating nuclear power plant – Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP). The NPP program also continues coordination with one decommissioning nuclear power plant – San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and two retired nuclear power plants – Humboldt Bay Nuclear Power Plant and Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station. The NPP program works with federal, state, local and utility officials in emergency planning, training and exercises to test emergency readiness. Together, through these combined preparedness efforts, the State of California provides reasonable assurance that appropriate measures can be taken to protect the health and safety of the public in the event of a radiological emergency at a nuclear power plant.
Bill Potter Boarding the USS Scranton SSN-756, San Diego, April 2017
Prior to coming joining Cal OES Potter spent 20 years in the US Air Force attached to many units including AFTAC, Nuclear Detection, Collection, and Analysis. He was a seismic systems maintenance technician, Airborne Scientific Laboratory Technician (SEO), DLI Arabic Language grad, and RSO at McClellan Central Lab.
With the Christmas decorations all set up and the excitement of the holidays in the air, it’s easy to forget about safety precautions and careful behavior — but knowing how to stay safe is just as important now as it is during the rest of the year! With the frosty holiday gusts and the exciting adventures to visit friends and family, many safety and home security issues come up that you might not have considered.
Follow these top five safety tips for the holidays, from Huffington Post’s Hometalker and safety expert Elli Bishop of SafeWise.com, to ensure that you are safe and prepared, and can enjoy your happy holidays free of stress and worry!
I went out to get my car today at the shop where it was being fixed and from one-thing to another the conversation turned to the recent 6.0 magnitude earthquake in Napa County. Nearly every Californian has heard about the damaged buildings and significant loss of precious wine bottles.
I shared that even though the news articles and newscasts show the worst of the disaster, that Napa County is still open for business and they have been very proactive in keeping shoppers and visitors coming to the region, even hours after the quake.
Although losing delicious wine is a travesty, it is an avoidable one! Whether you have a wine library, or a handful of bottles stored in the dining room, you need to secure those bottles so you do not end up with a mess of … continue reading »
Redlands – The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services continues to work towards the implementation of the most sophisticated earthquake early warning system that could potentially save millions of lives. Based on a whole community approach, today Cal OES hosted a second workshop in San Bernardino County to inform stakeholders of the state’s vision regarding the public-partnership component of the project, an implementation strategy and how to build on existing capabilities, including a strategy for outreach program goals; engagement of the private sector, utilities and transportation agencies; funding support; and other issues.
The first workshop was held on May 7 at the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo. “California has been working on an earthquake early warning system for many years,” said Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci. … continue reading »
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