What you need to know: California is sending more resources to assist New Mexico, Oregon, and Texas in disaster response, including incident support personnel and Urban Search and Rescue teams. 

SACRAMENTO - Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that California is continuing to answer calls for assistance from other states facing severe disasters by deploying additional emergency resources to New Mexico, Oregon, and Texas.

California is sending Urban Search and Rescue teams, firefighter strike teams, and specialized incident support personnel to assist in response efforts ranging from deadly flooding in Texas to severe wildfires in Oregon and flooding in New Mexico.

“California stands ready to help all Americans in times of crisis. Whether it’s battling wildfires or conducting life-saving search and rescue operations, our state’s highly trained first responders are answering the call to serve communities in need.” - Governor Gavin Newsom

Deployments include:

• Texas flooding: California deployed 9 FEMA Incident Support Team personnel to Texas alongside a cache of equipment and supplies. These staff members bring advanced planning and coordination expertise to help local and federal agencies manage the impacts of ongoing severe flooding.
• Additional Texas support: 18 personnel from California local agencies have been mobilized as part of a second wave of canine search and recovery teams.
• Oregon wildfires: A CAL FIRE strike team of five engines including 19 personnel, as well as 28 additional overhead personnel have been sent to Oregon to assist with containment efforts on dangerous wildfires threatening communities and infrastructure.
• New Mexico flooding: Three additional FEMA Incident Support personnel from California have been deployed to Ruidoso, New Mexico, to support flood response and recovery operations.

“California’s emergency management system is built on mutual aid and the spirit of helping our neighbors,” said Nancy Ward, Director of Cal OES. “Our highly trained teams stand ready to deploy wherever they’re needed, bringing critical expertise and resources to save lives and support communities in crisis. We’re proud to assist Texas, Oregon, and New Mexico during these challenging times.”

“We stand with Oregon during this critical time, just as they’ve stood with us during some of California’s toughest fire seasons,” said Anale Burlew, Chief Deputy Director of CAL FIRE. “These mutual aid partnerships are built on trust, coordination, and a shared commitment to public safety.”

Governor Newsom emphasized that even as California deploys aid to other states, Cal OES is ensuring that resources remain available to respond to emergencies at home, including the state’s own heightened wildfire risk during the summer season.

This deployment builds on California’s far-reaching efforts to aid other states during emergencies. In 2023, California deployed Urban Search and Rescue members to Hawaii to support wildfire response. In 2022, California deployed firefighters, disaster recovery experts, and other personnel to Montana, New Mexico, and Oregon. In 2021, California sent fire engines to assist Oregon’s response to the Bootleg Fire and Specialized Urban Search and Rescue Resources teams to Florida following the Surfside condo collapse.