California is at the epicenter of major natural and human created disasters. At the top of that list are fires, floods and earthquakes. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services — more commonly known as Cal OES — does a number of different things: coordinates the response by various state agencies to disasters. It also ensures the state is ready to respond to emergency situations. It assists in recovery and mitigation efforts. And it trains local government officials in all of these areas.

As fire season is now upon us, with warnings of excessive heat, Mark Ghilarducci, the director of Cal OES joins Insight to talk about fire, floods and earthquakes.

We’ll also explore some high profile incidents that tested many of the systems currently in place and explore innovations in how people are alerted to disaster situations. We’ll find out how Cal OES helps populations that may not be able to fully help themselves in emergencies or evacuate without assistance. These people include people with physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities, chronic conditions, seniors, people with limited English proficiency, homeless people, people with limited access to transportation, among many others.