San Bernardino County and its partner agencies hosted a press conference Friday morning to discuss ongoing response efforts in assisting residents after a nearly week-long series of snowstorms dumped more than nine feet of snow on communities stretching from Mt. Baldy to the eastern edge of the Big Bear Valley. The entire press conference can be viewed on the County’s YouTube channel.
County Fire, the Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, County Public Works, Caltrans, Southern California Edison, and Southern California Gas have entered into a unified command structure to better-coordinate the response to the emergency.
The San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services is operating 24/7 to coordinate food, fuel, supplies and services up to mountain residents.
On Wednesday, the Board of Supervisors conducted an emergency meeting to create a $10 million emergency funding stream to support efforts by County departments to clear snow from mountain roads. County CEO Leonard X. Hernandez also pledged to secure any additional resources needed to support the County’s efforts.
“We will rent and lease any vehicles we can acquire, and we are going after all of the reimbursements we can,” Hernandez told the Board.
The County’s call center has shifted to a 24-hour operation. Those in need can call 909-387-3911 for information and assistance. For urgent medical issues, residents should dial 911. Emergency phone services are operational in all mountain areas. County Fire is utilizing special snow vehicles to access snowed-in patients in medical need.
Mountain residents who may have snow-damaged homes are able to take refuge at the newly opened shelter at the Rim of the World High School, located at 27400 State Highway 18, in Lake Arrowhead. Mountain residents who have not been able to get back up the mountain can stay at the Redlands East Valley High School shelter, located at 31000 E. Colton Ave. in Redlands. Medical consultations are available at Rim of the World and at Redlands East Valley via phone.
Seniors can call the Department of Aging and Adult Services hotline for assistance at 877-565-2020.
To speak to someone about behavioral health services, please call the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health 24/7 phone line at 888-743-1478.
For road condition information: