The California State Warning Center (CSWC) is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The mission of the CSWC is to be the central information hub for statewide emergency communications and notifications. The CSWC is staffed with Emergency Notification Controllers, Emergency Services Coordinators and Senior Communications Coordinators. The CSWC serves as a highly reliable and accurate “one-stop” resource for emergency management, law enforcement and key decision making personnel throughout the state.
The CSWC has the responsibility to receive, coordinate, verify and disseminate information pertaining to events which occur within California or that could affect California. Information received by the CSWC is coordinated between Cal EMA and other sources to ensure that the information which is disseminated is both timely and accurate. Procedures have been established for the handling of such events as:
Earthquakes
Tsunamis
Floods
Major fires
Missing or overdue aircraft
Search and rescues
Hazardous material spills
Radiation incidents
Nuclear Incidents
Tracking of nuclear shipments (WIPP)
Weather watches and warnings
Conducts Governor, executive staff, agency and departmental notifications
Last year, Warning Center staff handled nearly 150,000 calls, including reports of more than 11,000 hazardous materials spills. Warning Center staff made over 650,000 notifications to Federal, State, and Local Government.