CalEPA Emergency Programs:

• ARB
• DPR
• DTSC
• OEHHA

Report Emergency
(800) 852-7550

• CalEMA
• FEMA

Resources and Document Library

On this page you will find resources for Cal/EPA Emergency Response and Disaster Preparedness.

Air Quality | Animal Disposal | Avian Influenza | Debris Removal and Disposal | Drought Declaration | Earthquake | Fire Response and Recovery | Hazardous Materials & Oil Spills | Preparing for an Emergency | Smoke | Useful Links | Government Assistance

Air Quality

• Current air conditions for California are available at Air Now.
• Air Quality from the South Coast AQMD
• South Coast Air Quality Management District Advisory Page (PDF)
• Ventura County Air Pollution Control District
• Los Angeles County Public Health
• San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District
• Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District

Animal Disposal

• Emergency Animal Disease Regulatory Guidance for Disposal and Decontamination (PDF)
• For current heat issues affecting the state, visit: California Emergency Management Agency’s (CALEMA) Heat Preparedness site
• Draft Guidelines for Emergency Composting of Cattle Mortalities (Iowa State University)
• Guide to Whole Animal Composting of Dairy Cattle (New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Services, PDF)
• Carcass Disposal: A Comprehensive Review (Kansas State University)
• Visit the UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team for more information on care and management of fire-affected livestock and carcasses.

Avian Influenza

• Scenario-based State Agency Review: Public Health Considerations for Detection of Avian Influenza in Birds (HPAI H5N1)  Guidance (PDF)
• California Department of Food and Agriculture
• California Department of Public Health (formerly Department of Health Services)

Debris Removal and Disposal

• Guidance for Conducting Emergency Debris, Waste and Hazardous Material Removal Actions Pursuant to a State or Local Emergency Proclamation -- October 2011 (PDF)
• Disaster Debris Removal Best Management Practices (PDF)
• Guidance for handling ash during cleanup: Safe Cleanup of Fire Ash (PDF)
• Guidance for disposal of animal carcasses associated with fires (PDF)
• Wildfire-damaged structure demolition/renovation activities reducing potential exposures to Asbestos containing materials (PDF)
• Dangers of Asbestos following a Fire (PDF)
• Handling ash, debris, and other hazardous materials from burned structures (English, PDF | Spanish, PDF)
• Management Options for Expedited Collection of Hazardous Wastes from Burned Areas (English, PDF | Spanish, PDF)
• Asbestos May Be Present in Debris from Burned Homes and Businesses (Southern California Air Quality Management District)
• Proclamation of a local health emergency by a county health officer (San Bruno gas pipeline explosion San Mateo County (PDF)
• Orders of the health officer (San Bruno gas pipeline explosion San Mateo County, PDF)

• Assessment of Burn Debris - 2007 Wildfires San Bernardino and San Diego Counties, California:
• Ash Report - Text Only (PDF)
• Tables for Ash Report (PDF)
• Figures for Ash Report (PDF)
• Appendix A -- Sampling and Analysis Plan (PDF)
• Appendix B -- Photograph Log (PDF, 5 MB)
• Appendix C -- Laboratory Analytical Certificates and Data Validation (PDF, 2 MB)
• Appendix D -- Statistical Analysis Report (PDF, 1 MB)
• Complete Ash Report (PDF, 20 MB)
• Addendum to Assessment of Burn Debris (PDF)
• Safe Cleanup of Fire Ash (PDF)
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Voluntary Guidelines for Methamphetamine Laboratory Cleanup (PDF)

Drought Declaration

• Process and Criteria for Secretarial Determination Regarding Drought Emergency Projects (PDF)
• Application (MS Word)
• California Department of Water Resources 1 (PDF)
• California Department of Water Resources 2 (PDF)
• San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (PDF)
• San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority 2 (PDF)
• Public Resources Code sections 21080(b)(3), 21080(b)(4) and 21172, and in California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15269(c)
• Governor Brown Ends State’s Drought Status, Urges Californians to Continue to Conserve (3/30/2011)

Earthquake

• Southern California Catastrophic Earthquake Response Plan (PDF)

Fire Response and Recovery

• Fire Season 2008: Executive Order S-03-08
• 49er Fire Cleanup Information Placer County

Hazardous Materials & Oil Spills

• Interim Draft – California Hazardous Materials and Oil Emergency Function Annex EF-10 (PDF)
• California Emergency Functions Fact Sheet -- June 2011 (PDF)
• California Hazardous Materials and Oil Emergency Function Fact Sheet EF-10 -- June 2011 (PDF)
• California Emergency Function-10 -- Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
• California Hazardous Materials and Oil Emergency Function (EF-10) Fact Sheet -- January 2011 (PDF)
• Cosco Busan Oil Spill Executive Order S-14-07
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) BP Oil Spill Map of Response
• Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) Report on the safety of consuming fish and shellfish from the Cosco Busan Oil Spill.
• State of California Emergency Plan (SEP)

Preparing for an Emergency

• Be Prepared California
• American Red Cross
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Smoke

• Learn how to protect your lungs from wildfire smoke and the proper use of face masks (PDF)
• Smoke Impact. How to protect your family from the health effects of smoke and other information. Provided by the California Air Pollution Control Officer's Association.
• Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials
• Health risks of wild fires for children - acute phase (PDF)

Useful Links

• AirNow
• Calfire
• California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA)
• California Air Response Planning Alliance (CARPA)
• California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH)
• California Department of Fish and Game: Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR)
• California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR)
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
• California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
• California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
• California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA)
• California Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR)
• California Fire Alliance
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Coordinated Agency Recovery Effort (C.A.R.E.) Los Angeles County
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Federal Interagency Incident Information System
• Federal Interagency Smoke Management Site
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
• Oiled Wildlife Care Network
• Station Fire Recovery
• University of California Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team
• US EPA Emergency Management; Emergency Response and Activities
• US EPA Region 9

Government Assistance

• Rebuild Your Life. A resource for consumers who are seeking information about what they need to do to recover from a disaster.
• Governor's California Emergency Management Agency Fire and Rescue
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH) provides information on health risks associated with the wildfires.
• California Volunteers. This website provides information on opportunities to assist in the relief efforts related to the fires.
• Insurance and rebuilding information. The California Department of Insurance can provide assistance on insurance issues and claims. Call toll-free 1-800-927-HELP (4357) or visit www.insurance.ca.gov.
• California Contractor's State License Board. Investigating building contractors or filing complaints. The Contractors State License Board verifies a contractor's license, investigates complaints, and provides information about hiring a licensed contractor. Contact CSLB Disaster Hotline M-F from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 1-800-962-1125, or 24-hour Automated Phone Response System 1-800-321 CSLB (2752). Licenses can also be checked online at www.cslb.ca.gov. See the CSLB's Disaster Help Center.
• Franchise Tax Board. FTB provides guidance in obtaining tax relief for disaster casualty losses. Contact the Franchise Tax Board at 1-800-852-5711, (TTY/TDD) for hearing or speech impaired: 1-800-822-6268.