San Bernardino County officials are warning residents to keep an eye on storms in this weekend.
Eleven months after devastating snowstorms paralyzed communities in the San Bernardino Mountains and officially led to the death of one resident, county officials are working to improve communication and prepare communities for possible hazards.
In an update sent to county residents on Thursday, Jan. 18, officials warned that “rain and possible high-elevation snow” could be coming to mountain communities through Monday.
“The National Weather Service can’t yet predict how intense the rain might be, but significant precipitation is possible,” the update reads in part.
County officials, including those with the public works and emergency services departments, are watching the forecasts and the weather “in real time” to determine what sort of action might be necessary, the update continued. Equipment has also been prepositioned at public works yards throughout the county, waiting to be called into action if needed.
Prior to the winter storm season, county crews cleaned out basins, channels and storm drains to help flood-control facilities work at maximum capacity. Sandbags for residents are available at local fire stations.
“Public Works will also have three teams operating on Saturday to warn the unhoused community within flood facilities about the incoming storms,” county spokesperson David Wert wrote in an email Friday afternoon. “The sheriff has helicopters ready to fly over flood facilities to issue warnings if needed. Code Enforcement and law enforcement will be called in to work with any homeless individuals who remain in high-risk facilities.”
A report released by the county on Jan. 12 criticized officials for waiting four days after the National Weather Service’s blizzard warning in February 2023 to activate its Emergency Operations Center.
The county’s newly hired director of emergency services, Crisanta Gonzalez, emailed top-ranking county officials Friday morning, letting them know that snow was mostly expected to occur above 7,000 feet — well above the elevations of the communities of Big Bear Lake, Crestline, Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs. Both county fire and Yucaipa Fire Department staff are standing by.
More information on this weekend’s storm is available prepare.sbcounty.gov, the county’s preparedness website.
