County crews make quick progress clearing public roads
County Public Works crews working non-stop since Monday morning have serviced all public roads and have cleared most of them in the majority of the county's snow-affected communities. They expect make all public roads passable, even those in the toughest-to-serve areas, within the next 48 hours.
All public roads in Angelus Oaks, Big Bear, Crestline, Forest Falls, Oak Glen and Wrightwood are passable and most are clear. The County is making fast progress on roads in the communities that experienced the most snowfall - Arrowbear Lake, Green Valley Lake, Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs.
Public Works has more than 100 pieces of snow equipment deployed in the mountains. Crews will continue to service and re-service roads during and after the storm. Residents should be aware that a snowplow not being visible on your street does not mean County crews are not out in full force. Plowing all county thoroughfares and roads takes time, and priority is given to main arteries. They will arrive.
The public can track the County's progress on the Snow Report Status Dashboard, which has been redesigned and updated for the current storm.
Snowfall during this most recent storm was far lighter than the 10-plus feet of snow that fell in some local communities during the February/early March blizzard. However, it still exceeded 15 inches in several communities.
Snowfall recorded by Public Works between 6:30 a.m. Wednesday and 6:30 a.m. today along with the two-day totals were:
- Angelus Oaks: 5", 17"
- Arrowbear Lake: 6", 22"
- Barton Flats: 5", 17"
- Big Bear: 7", 17"
- Crestline: 8", 15"
- Forest Falls (Yucaipa Ridge): 6", 19"
- Green Valley Lake: 7", 31"
- Lake Arrowhead: 5", 16"
- Mt. Baldy Road (end of road): 8", 24"
- Mt. Baldy Village: 3", 7"
- Oak Glen: 1", 1"
- Running Springs: 5", 19"
- Wrightwood: zero, 18"
Public Works reports that road-clearing efforts went smoothly throughout the night. County Fire reported no significant events besides partnering with County Animal Care in the dramatic rescue of dozens of cattle, horses, pigs, goats and other animals from a flooded farm in Muscoy.
San Bernardino County Public Works crews began plowing mountain roads as soon as snow and rain began falling . 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.
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.
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.
- 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.
- Beware of snow and ice sliding down from rooftops.
- 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 or someone you know are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
County Local Assistance Centers open this weekend
The County is establishing three Local Assistance Centers (LACs) to connect mountain residents with a variety of essential County, state, and private sector resources.
On Saturday and Sunday, March 25 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., LACs will be in operation at Charles Hoffman Elementary School in Running Springs and Valley of Enchantment Elementary School in Crestline. On Tuesday and Wednesday, March 28 and 29, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., a LAC will be in operation at Wrightwood Place in Wrightwood.
Dates and hours of operation could be affected by weather conditions. Please call the Storm Information Line at 909-387-3911 or check the County's social media platforms for updates.
Services will include building & safety, insurance information, assistance for seniors, public health, tax and property resources, help for veterans, snow removal and reimbursement, advice on hiring contractors, behavioral health, help for small businesses, transitional assistance, employment assistance, legal services, and general disaster aid and relief.
The County will provide food distribution at each of the LACs for as long as supplies last.
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