All Hazards

All Hazards

By CalOES/Shawn Boyd
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All Hazards episodes

  • The Erskine Fire: Beyond the Lines
    As of this publishing, crews continue to get a handle on the Erskine Fire in the Lake Isabella area of Kern County. 

    But as they do there are still concerns and challenges facing them -- hot, dry and windy weather; difficult terrain; safety for everyone involved including the public; and much more. At this point the response phase of the attack is slowly gearing down, and the recovery phase is gearing up. 

    Members of the Cal OES public information team were on the ground talking with leaders of the Kern County Fire Department, as well as Kern County Environmental Health about what they're seeing and what may lay ahead down that long road to recovery.  Chief Information Officer Brad Alexander hosts this edition of the All Hazards podcast.


    LINKS


    Erskine Fire Info via InciWeb

    Map of the Erskine Fire
    29 min
  • Chargers' Stadium Became Home to Thousands of Fire Evacuees
    In late October 2007, Southern California experienced an unusually severe fire weather event characterized by intense, dry, gusty Santa Ana winds. This weather event drove a series of destructive wildfires that took a devastating toll on people, property, natural resources, and infrastructure. During this siege, 17 people lost their lives, 10 were killed by the fires outright, three were killed while evacuating, and 140 firefighters and an unknown number of civilians were injured. A total of 3,069 homes and other buildings were destroyed, and hundreds more were damaged. 

    More than 350,000 households were evacuated at the height of the siege, meaning the evacuation could have included more than 900,000 people. Bob Kanaski was put in charge of the evacuation center at Qualcomm Stadium, home of the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. It was a brilliant move but not without its many challenges. Mr. Kanaski talks about those and how he and his team were able to meet them head-on and win.

    Links/Resources

    Take a look at the video version of this podcast here:
    https://youtu.be/q7LsBvzC9Y4

    Read the complete Cal FIRE report on the 2007 California Fire Siege:
    California Fire Siege 2007: An Overview
    20 min
  • Chargers’ Stadium Became Home to Thousands of Fire Evacuees


    In late October 2007, Southern California experienced an unusually severe fire weather event characterized by intense, dry, gusty Santa Ana winds. This weather event drove a series of destructive wildfires that took a devastating toll on people, property, natural resources, and infrastructure. During this siege, 17 people lost their lives, 10 were killed by the fires outright, three were killed while evacuating, and 140 firefighters and an unknown number of civilians were injured. A total of 3,069 homes and other buildings were destroyed, and hundreds more were damaged. 


    More than 350,000 households were evacuated at the height of the siege, meaning the evacuation could have included more than 900,000 people. Bob Kanaski was put in charge of the evacuation center at Qualcomm Stadium, home of the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. It was a brilliant move but not without its many challenges. Mr. Kanaski talks about those and how he and his team were able to meet them head-on and win.

    Links/Resources




    Take a look at the video version of this podcast here:

    https://youtu.be/q7LsBvzC9Y4

    Read the complete Cal FIRE report on the 2007 California Fire Siege:
    California Fire Siege 2007: An Overview
    20 min
  • Jerry Haleva: The Dude & The Dictator
    Jerry was born Jerome Michael Haleva in May of 1946. He served as chief of staff for Senator Bill Campbell (namesake for the Cal OES HQ building) from 1975-1990.  But he’s more recognizable as an actor in his comedic roles as Saddam Hussein, especially due to his resemblance to the now deceased Iraqi dictator.  He says he’s a “rock star” among "Achievers," fans of the movie "The Big Lebowski," taking his place at the autograph table at annual Lebowski Fests alongside The Dude himself, Jeff Bridges, as well as John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Julianne Moore and many other actors from the film. 

    To date (May 2003) his every credited acting role has been that of Saddam Hussein. (Source: IMDB)
    He is currently a contract lobbyist (Sergeant Major Associates) and lives in Sacramento, California. 






    Filmography (Source: IMDB)
    2002 Live from Baghdad (TV Movie) ; Saddam Hussein
    2002 The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest; Hologram Saddam (as Jerry M. Haleva)
    1998 Jane Austen's Mafia!; Saddam Hussein
    1998 The Big Lebowski; Saddam Hussein
    1993 Hot Shots! Part Deux; Saddam Hussein
    1991 Hot Shots!; Saddam Hussein (as Jerry Halera)
    2009 The Achievers: The Story of the Lebowski Fans (Documentary) Saddam Hussein / Himself

    Links/Resources
    http://sgtmaj.com/
    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0355062/

    31 min
  • California's Search and Rescue Top Cop

    Matt Scharper is a Deputy Chief with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services - Law Enforcement Branch and is the California State Search and Rescue Coordinator.  Matt is headquartered out of the Region V office, located in Fresno, CA and is also the Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Coordinator for Region V.  


    In this episode Scharper takes pride in lives saved over his 30+ years with SAR, and talks about one of the most recent rescues and how it nearly turned into a recovery mission. He also talks about how inexperienced outdoor enthusiasts put too much reliance on Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs and SEND) which unnecessarily puts other lives at risk. And there's the technology and military mutual aid that has made night SAR missions possible. 


    Sharper is a recognized expert in the field of Search and Rescue, he spent 13 years as the Search and Rescue Unit Coordinator for the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Department and has over 34 years of combined search and rescue experience.   He has coordinated literally hundreds of searches, rescues, and large and small-scale disasters.  A previous college instructor for search and rescue topics of: Search Management and Tactics, Technical Rope Rescue, Swift water Rescue, Man Tracking, and Law Enforcement Incident Command Systems along with other Law Enforcement topics.  He is the lead instructor for the Cal EMA Search and Rescue Instruction Program, instructing the “Direction and Control of the Search Function Course” and the “Winter Operations SAR Management Course” and is responsible for all State of California SAR programs.  Matt’s 30 year law enforcement career has earned him California’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificates of “Advanced, Supervisory, and Management”. 

    The Law Enforcement Branch is responsible for coordinating state mutual aid for search and rescue in California. In addition, it receives and coordinates interstate requests under the auspices of the National Search and Rescue Plan. The branch also coordinates all local requests for state and Federal agency assistance. Because search and rescue missions are often life threatening, requests for out-of-county, state or Federal resources can be made directly to CalOES.   

     

     

    Links/Resources 

    Cal OES Mutual Aid Partner CalGuard Shows Off Latest Search & Rescue Tools 

    Search and Rescue Mutual Aid 

    http://www.caloes.ca.gov/cal-oes-divisions/law-enforcement/mutual-aid-system/search-rescue-mutual-aid 

    3rd Battalion 140th Aviation Battalion Security and Support 

    https://www.facebook.com/3140avn/timeline 

    http://www.calguard.ca.gov/ 

    18 min
  • California’s Search and Rescue Top Cop



    Matt Scharper is a Deputy Chief with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services - Law Enforcement Branch and is the California State Search and Rescue Coordinator.  Matt is headquartered out of the Region V office, located in Fresno, CA and is also the Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Coordinator for Region V.  



    In this episode Scharper takes pride in lives saved over his 30+ years with SAR, and talks about one of the most recent rescues and how it nearly turned into a recovery mission. He also talks about how inexperienced outdoor enthusiasts put too much reliance on Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs and SEND) which unnecessarily puts other lives at risk. And there's the technology and military mutual aid that has made night SAR missions possible. 



    Sharper is a recognized expert in the field of Search and Rescue, he spent 13 years as the Search and Rescue Unit Coordinator for the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Department and has over 34 years of combined search and rescue experience.   He has coordinated literally hundreds of searches, rescues, and large and small-scale disasters.  A previous college instructor for search and rescue topics of: Search Management and Tactics, Technical Rope Rescue, Swift water Rescue, Man Tracking, and Law Enforcement Incident Command Systems along with other Law Enforcement topics.  He is the lead instructor for the Cal EMA Search and Rescue Instruction Program, instructing the “Direction and Control of the Search Function Course” and the “Winter Operations SAR Management Course” and is responsible for all State of California SAR programs.  Matt’s 30 year law enforcement career has earned him California’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificates of “Advanced, Supervisory, and Management”. 


    The Law Enforcement Branch is responsible for coordinating state mutual aid for search and rescue in California. In addition, it receives and coordinates interstate requests under the auspices of the National Search and Rescue Plan. The branch also coordinates all local requests for state and Federal agency assistance. Because search and rescue missions are often life threatening, requests for out-of-county, state or Federal resources can be made directly to CalOES.   


     


     


    Links/Resources 


    Cal OES Mutual Aid Partner CalGuard Shows Off Latest Search & Rescue Tools 


    Search and Rescue Mutual Aid 


    http://www.caloes.ca.gov/cal-oes-divisions/law-enforcement/mutual-aid-system/search-rescue-mutual-aid 


    3rd Battalion 140th Aviation Battalion Security and Support 


    https://www.facebook.com/3140avn/timeline 


    http://www.calguard.ca.gov/ 

    18 min
  • Easter Quake Took Lives, Rattled Nerves, Challenged New Fire Chief














    At 3:40 in the afternoon on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, the Baja California earthquake struck, registering a 7.2 magnitude on the moment magnitude scale. It's epicenter was 16 miles south of Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California, Mexico. It's said to have lasted about a minute and a half. The strongest shaking was felt in the ejido of Alberto Oviedo Mota, in the municipality of Mexicali, Calexico, and Guadalupe Victoria. Most of the damage in this earthquake occurred in the twin cities of Mexicali and Calexico on the Mexico–United States border. Four people were killed and 100 people were injured.

    Imperial County, California, immediately activated its emergency operations center while first responders rolled into action. Leading the charge was the relatively new fire chief Tony Rouhotas, Jr.; he was also the OES coordinator. Chief Rouhotas was suddenly facing the kind of situation he'd never dealt with before -- a large earthquake that damaged buildings and injured people both in his county as well as in his neighboring Mexicali. Despite being south of the border his agency had an international agreement with them to provide mutual aid. The challenges he faced and the decisions he had to make were immense but he stepped up to the plate and swung for the fences. What he learned during and after that disaster paid dividends for him, and it can for you too. Take a listen. 


    Links/Resources

    http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2010/ci14607652/


    http://www.caloes.ca.gov/PlanningPreparednessSite/Documents/09%20Baja%20Earthquake%20Exec%20Summary.pdf



    http://www.co.imperial.ca.us/fire/index.html



    33 min
  • Easter Quake Took Lives, Rattled Nerves, Challenged New Fire Chief
    At 3:40 in the afternoon on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, the Baja California earthquake struck, registering a 7.2 magnitude on the moment magnitude scale. It's epicenter was 16 miles south of Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California, Mexico. It's said to have lasted about a minute and a half. The strongest shaking was felt in the ejido of Alberto Oviedo Mota, in the municipality of Mexicali, Calexico, and Guadalupe Victoria. Most of the damage in this earthquake occurred in the twin cities of Mexicali and Calexico on the Mexico–United States border. Four people were killed and 100 people were injured.
    Imperial County, California, immediately activated its emergency operations center while first responders rolled into action. Leading the charge was the relatively new fire chief Tony Rouhotas, Jr.; he was also the OES coordinator. Chief Rouhotas was suddenly facing the kind of situation he'd never dealt with before -- a large earthquake that damaged buildings and injured people both in his county as well as in his neighboring Mexicali. Despite being south of the border his agency had an international agreement with them to provide mutual aid. The challenges he faced and the decisions he had to make were immense but he stepped up to the plate and swung for the fences. What he learned during and after that disaster paid dividends for him, and it can for you too. Take a listen. 
    Links/Resources
    http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2010/ci14607652/
    http://www.caloes.ca.gov/PlanningPreparednessSite/Documents/09%20Baja%20Earthquake%20Exec%20Summary.pdf
    http://www.co.imperial.ca.us/fire/index.html
    33 min
  • Sheriff James Mele: Big Role in a Small County


    James Mele was elected as Tuolumne County Sheriff in 2006. He comes from a family of law enforcement professionals. His father spent 35 years with the LAPD. Mele is says while he’s a sheriff in a small county he still often finds himself in meetings with the governor, US senators and representatives and other high-powered officials. Early on he struggled finding his “self” but took a proactive approach to fixing that. He also says his ego sometimes got in the way of success, as it does with many people. One of the challenging times during his time as sheriff has been managing law enforcement personnel during the Rim Fire; the biggest causes were radio limitations and interoperability. He says as a leader you need to know that you can’t do it all yourself; you need partners and his during the Rim Fire his was Cal OES and its MIGU.

     

    Links/Resources

    http://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/index.aspx?NID=341

    USC Price School Leadership Programs

    USC Price School in Sacramento

    2014 California Mobile Command CenterRally a Success in Sacramento (Topic: MIGU)

     

    42 min
  • Sheriff James Mele: Big Role in a Small County
    James Mele was elected as Tuolumne County Sheriff in 2006. He comes from a family of law enforcement professionals. His father spent 35 years with the LAPD. Mele is says while he’s a sheriff in a small county he still often finds himself in meetings with the governor, US senators and representatives and other high-powered officials. Early on he struggled finding his “self” but took a proactive approach to fixing that. He also says his ego sometimes got in the way of success, as it does with many people. One of the challenging times during his time as sheriff has been managing law enforcement personnel during the Rim Fire; the biggest causes were radio limitations and interoperability. He says as a leader you need to know that you can’t do it all yourself; you need partners and his during the Rim Fire his was Cal OES and its MIGU.
     
    Links/Resources
    http://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/index.aspx?NID=341
    USC Price School Leadership Programs
    USC Price School in Sacramento
    2014 California Mobile Command CenterRally a Success in Sacramento (Topic: MIGU)
    42 min

About All Hazards

From the publisher's feed

Interviews with California and national emergency response leaders who talk about what they've learned from the most challenging moments of their careers.