California Emergency Current Events and Announcements

Updated June 12, 2023

UPDATE: CA DR-4699: 3 Additional Counties and RPA Deadlines
A communication from the HENTF and FEMA Task Force office

Dear California colleagues,

Previously, we at the Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF) reached out to provide an updated status to everyone for the California Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, also referred to as DR-4699. We continue to hope you and your loved ones are managing to stay safe from the impacts of these events. To further the response and recovery efforts of California’s arts and culture sector, as well as the public, we would like to share another updated status on the availability of Public Assistance funding in the impacted counties.

  • On February 21, 2023, a major disaster was declared for severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that led to a major disaster declaration on April 3rd in California. Public Assistance was made available to an additional 3 counties on June 8th, for a total of 38 counties. Please refer to the map for further location and assistance details: Designated Areas | FEMA.gov.
  • The available counties are as follows in alphabetical order and the Request for Public Assistance (RPA) submission deadlines noted to the right of each county. The three (3) new counties are highlighted.

Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne

  •  Please note the following 23 counties have a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) submission deadline by tomorrow, June 13, 2023!!:

Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Del Norte, Fresno, Glenn, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Modoc, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Trinity, Tulare, and Tuolumne

  • The following 12 counties have an upcoming RPA submission deadline of June 24, 2023!!:

El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mono, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, and Shasta

Finally, please continue to reach out to your members and constituents and share the following resources:

  • Cultural institutions and arts organizations affected by the storms and tornadoes can call the National Heritage Responders hotline: 202.661.8068. The National Heritage Responders, a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, are available 24/7 to provide advice and guidance.
  • Members of the public who have questions about saving family heirlooms can email the National Heritage Responders at [email protected] 
  • HENTF’s Save Your Family Treasures guidance is available at Save Your Family Treasures | FEMA.gov. Here you can find the downloadable FEMA fact sheets “After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures” and “Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms,” available in multiple languages.

Please convey any questions to me at [email protected].

With thanks,

Sarah Caruso
Save Your Family Treasures Project Manager (Detail)
Heritage Emergency National Task Force
Office of Environmental Planning & Historic Preservation Resilience
Mobile: (202) 718-2011
[email protected]
HENTF - Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative (si.edu)

Federal Emergency Management Agency
fema.gov

Do you know of other resources that should be listed here? Contact Michelle Rader at [email protected] or 831-471-9970 x1.

Emergency Response & Recovery Resources

CalOES Governor's Office of Emergency Services
Access to state news, information and resources to help Californians impacted by various emergencies and disasters throughout the state.

CalOES Wildfire Recovery Resources
Statewide wildfire recovery resources

CalOES Planning & Preparedness
The Cal OES Planning and Preparedness Branch develops and maintains state-level emergency plans and planning guidance for state and local agencies.

"Ready — Or Not": Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project
NEDCC’s "Ready – Or Not" preservation consultants conduct free site visits for California organizations stewarding cultural resources and then deliver a report with their observations. Each report includes recommendations for mitigating risks, taking emergency preparedness actions, and completing a disaster plan, thereby providing each with tools to better protect their collections in an emergency, ensuring that California’s cultural heritage is preserved into the future.

American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Disaster Preparedness and Response Resources
In support of organizations that find themselves in the path of a potential disaster AAM has compiled a
list of resources to help prepare and recover.

“After the Fire: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures”
An article from the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FEMA)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Federal resources in preparation for and response to emergencies and disasters.

Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative: Planning, Preparedness, and Mitigation Resources
The Smithsonian Institution, in partnership with the Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), information and resources for properly beginning, improving, and testing your disaster plan.

Smithsonian National Collections Program
Collections Emergency Management initiative through the Preparedness and Response in Collections Emergencies (PRICE).

Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative: HENTF Major Disasters Archives of Disaster Information
Past HENTF disaster information that was originally shared on the Current Disasters page.

Smithsonian Archives & Libraries: Ask a Conservator: Emergency Management
Recorded video discussion on preparation and response in emergencies, both within and outside of the Smithsonian Institution.

American Institute for Conservation (AIC) with the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC): Disaster Response and Recovery Guides
Provides emergency and disaster response and recovery guides and information, tip sheets, and additional publications.

American Institute for Conservation’s Emergency Response and Salvage Mobile App
The Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel has been used by museums, libraries, and archives around the world for salvaging artifacts after a disaster. 

 

Disaster Assistance/Response

California Preservation Program – Disaster Assistance
888-905-7737 (emergency response hotline)

American Institute for Conservation's National Heritage Responders
202-661-8068
 
Balboa Art Conservation Center
619-236-9702

Cleanup Services (water/smoke damage mitigation):
BELFOR
800-856-3333 (24/7 Emergency Hotline)
Hayward office: 510-785-3473 / 24/7 Emergency Number: 888-543-3473
Los Angeles office: 714-632-7685 / 24/7 Emergency Number: 800-421-4112
San Diego office: 858-847-9886 / 24/7 Emergency Number: 866-421-4144

Polygon
800-I-CAN-DRY (422-6379)

Walk-in Freezer Rental (water damage mitigation):
Polar Leasing Company, Inc 
877-260-7903 (Sales)
877-428-2532 (Service)
 

Freeze Drying:
BELFOR
800-856-3333 (24/7 Emergency Hotline)
Hayward office: 510-785-3473 / 24/7 Emergency Number: 888-543-3473
Los Angeles office: 714-632-7685 / 24/7 Emergency Number: 800-421-4112
San Diego office: 858-847-9886 / 24/7 Emergency Number: 866-421-4144

Document Reprocessors
800-437-9464 (24 Hour Disaster Line)
650-401-7711 (West Coast Facility, Burlingame)

Mold/Bacteria Testing:
RestCon Environmental
888-617-3266 (toll-free)
916-736-1134 (Sacramento office)

Do you know of other resources that should be listed here? Contact Michelle Rader at [email protected] or 831-471-9970 x1.