Disaster Response

When California gets hit by a natural disaster, do you know how fuel helps save lives?

California is geographically prone to natural disasters like earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, and snow. When a natural disaster hits, the priority is to deploy emergency vehicles and rescue teams to save the injured and contain the disaster.

HOW ARE RESCUE TEAMS MOBILIZED

Rescue teams and emergency vehicles rely on access to an adequate FUEL SUPPLY to reach areas affected by a natural disaster. For example, as part of the fire and rescue division’s preparation and operation, the rescue team needs to ensure at least a half tank of fuel at the time of deployment. Otherwise, it becomes a challenge to send help to the affected areas.

Read below to learn about the importance of fuel in emergencies.

The inability to access a FUEL SOURCE in a natural disaster puts Californians AT RISK.

How Fuel is Deployed in Emergencies:

  • The Fuel Set-Aside Program allows the Energy Commission to direct petroleum production and storage facilities to set aside fuel for emergency response activities. This is an important program because it can be difficult for emergency responders to secure fuel during a catastrophe. With this program, it ensures that fuel is available to support emergency response activities.
  • Fuel refineries and distributors will communicate with the Energy Commission to make sure responders with fuel needs are taken care of.

In California’s local government emergency planning playbook, an important piece of the emergency plan is to form a task force composed of members from both the public and private sector.The public sector refers to the government and its agencies, but who falls under the private sector? They include:

    • Electric Utilities
    • Natural Gas Utilities
    • Petroleum Industry
    • Pipeline Operators

How well can California’s energy goals hold up to the effects of wildfire emissions?

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Citations

Cal OES. (2019, April). California Fire Service and Rescue Emergency Mutual Aid System. Cal OES. https://www.caloes.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/Fire-Rescue/Documents/CalOES_-_Fire_and_Rescue_-_Strike_Team_Leader_Manual.pdf

California Energy Commission. (2019, January). Fuel Set-Aside Program. California Energy Commission. https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2020-02/2019_FSAP_QA_Factsheet_0_ada.pdf

California Energy Commission. (n.d.-c). Petroleum Fuels Set-Aside Program. California Energy Commission. Retrieved June 16, 2023, from https://www.energy.ca.gov/rules-and-regulations/state-energy-management/response-energy-emergencies-california/petroleum

California Energy Commission. (2004, April). LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY PLANNING HANDBOOK. California Energy Commission. https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019-06/2004-03-11_GOV_EMRGNCY_HNDB.PDF

National Association of State Energy Officials. (2016, September 29). Fuel Response Options to a Catastrophic Event. California Energy Commission. https://www.naseo.org/Data/Sites/1/schremp-2.pdf