County Snow Plowing Efforts are in Full Force

San Bernardino County Public Works crews began plowing mountain roads as soon as snow and rain began falling this morning. The County began positioning resources in the mountains and put crews on 24-hour spilt shifts on Monday morning for the duration of the storm and until roads are clear.

Meanwhile, County Fire secured more resources from the state, including an additional swift water rescue team and a bulldozer and operator, adding to the 10 fire engine companies provided by agencies throughout the county. County Fire reported that a swift water rescue had already taken place this morning when a motorist became trapped in fast-moving flood waters.

The current storm is expected to maintain strength through tomorrow. 

The County has taken the following steps to serve and protect the public:

• All County Public Works operations employees, seasonal employees, and on-call contractors are activated for snow plowing and storm patrol to operate staged equipment on split shifts for 24-hour coverage and will remain on duty through the duration of the storm.
  • Residents and businesses should be aware that plowing all county thoroughfares and roads takes time, and that priority is given to main arteries. A snowplow not being visible on your street does not mean County crews are not out in full force. They will arrive.
• County Flood Control District crews have been activated on split shifts for the duration of the storm. Equipment is staged at strategic sites, including the El Dorado Fire burn area as well as along the Mojave River to help manage increased runoff from the snow melt. First-line-of-defense flood control basins in the foothills have been cleared and are ready to accept mud and debris flows.
• Engine crews from 10 fire agencies have been staged at a central location so they can be dispatched as needs arise throughout the county. This assembly was made possible through a request by the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District to the State Office of Emergency Services. The agencies represented are:
  • San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
  • Chino Valley Fire District
  • Big Bear Fire Department
  • Fort Irwin Fire Department
  • San Manuel Fire Department
  • Apple Valley Fire Protection District
  • Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District
  • Ontario Fire Department
  • Redlands Fire Department
  • Rialto Fire Department
• County Fire has also stationed swift-water rescue teams throughout the county, including the Mojave River. Hand crews and bulldozers have also been pre-positioned throughout the county.
• The Sheriff’s Department has added extra deputies for routine patrol for the next two weeks along with deputies assigned to address traffic-related issues and enforce anti-roadside snow play regulations.
• The County Office of Emergency Services (OES) is continuously monitoring the weather, coordinating reports, and implementing multiagency coordination calls.
• The County is prepared to activate the Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS) to warn residents who might be in danger.

State Highway 189 closed

Caltrans reports that State Highway 189 between Blue Jay and Lake Arrowhead will remain closed until further notice due to erosion and a retaining wall issue. Travelers are asked to use SR-18 to SR-173 to get to Lake Arrowhead Village. Residents within the closure area will have access until certain points but cannot drive through the work zone.

Take precautions

The County urges residents, especially those in the mountains and areas susceptible to flooding, to take the following precautions:

• Limit travel as much as possible. When you do have to travel, do so with caution.
  • Stay abreast of road conditions on state highways, https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/, and County roads, https://dpw.sbcounty.gov/operations/road-closures/.
• Maintain at least a two-week supply of food, water, medications, essential equipment, and fuel.
• Stay clear of moving water.
• Monitor weather reports for emergency advisories. Visit the National Weather Service, San Diego, https://www.weather.gov/sgx/ for the latest weather information impacting San Bernardino County
• The TENS system is preloaded with all landline telephone numbers in the county. However, it is updated only every six months and does not include mobile numbers. To ensure you receive TENS alerts, sign up here: http://www.sbcounty.gov/sbcfire/Tens/TensContact.aspx.
• Do what you can to prevent snow from accumulating on roofs and adjacent to your home.
• Beware of snow and ice sliding down from rooftops.
• Protect your property with sandbags if you believe you might be vulnerable to flooding.
  • Check the County Fire sandbag website, https://sbcfire.org/sandbags/, for tips as well as locations where sandbags and sand may be available.
• Use tarps to protect damaged structures.
• Check for updates and helpful information on the County’s Snow Information website, https://snowinfo.sbcounty.gov/; on the County’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/SanBernardinoCounty/; and on Twitter and Instagram, @sbcounty.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

For storm information and assistance, call the County’s information line at 909-387-3911. The line is staffed seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Voicemails left after hours will be returned the following morning.