By Elise Gray
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
When heavy winter storms or wildfires strike, the mountain communities often face a critical challenge: Where can residents go when they’re stranded or displaced? The American Red Cross is stepping in to make sure locals have an answer.
On July 19, the Red Cross hosted a full-day shelter training session at the Lake Arrowhead Community Presbyterian Church, teaching community members how to open and operate emergency shelters when disasters hit.
“This training is about making sure our community is never caught unprepared again,” said Erin Fox, Community Disaster Program manager for the San Bernardino Chapter, referencing the devastating winter storm often referred to as “Snowmageddon” by locals.
The storm, which the National Weather Service characterized as a blizzard, hit the San Bernardino Mountain range, including Lake Arrowhead, from Feb. 23 to March 15, 2023. The initial snowfall from Feb. 23 to 28 accumulated to nearly seven feet with communities like Lake Arrowhead receiving an estimated 109 inches of snow. Being one of the biggest storms in decades, it left many residents trapped and isolated with snowed-in cars and impassable roads.
“At the time, we only had one Red Cross volunteer in the area.,” said Fox. “We realized quickly that wasn’t enough, so we started working with local groups to recruit and train more people.”
The training session provided practical experience on how to conduct the various tasks required to maintain a shelter through two modules. Shelter Fundamentals introduced the roles and responsibilities of running a shelter. In the hands-on Shelter Simulation, participants practiced setting up cots, registering clients and organizing logistics like meals and supplies.
Fourteen folks participated in the daylong training, learning how to set up and operate a shelter. (Photo by Ricardo Tomboc, American Red Cross).
“People loved seeing how everything works,” Fox noted. “You realize how much teamwork it takes – there’s a logistics team, a registration team, people ordering meals and others making sure special needs like baby formula or dietary restrictions are met. Everyone plays a role in making the shelter work.”
The need for more trained locals is clear. Mountain communities like Lake Arrowhead are vulnerable not only to severe winter storms but also to wildfires and earthquakes. Having a network of prepared volunteers ensures shelters can open quickly and run smoothly when residents need them most. Fourteen people attended the training, including members of local CERT teams, school district representatives, faith-based organizations and individual volunteers. Some had no organizational ties, so the Red Cross provided guidance on how they could formally volunteer, including the required background checks.
For Fox, the motivation for working with the Red Cross and running these sessions is deeply personal. “For me, the best part about the Red Cross is being there when someone’s experiencing the worst time in their life. It’s the most rewarding thing,” she said, tearing up.
“All these volunteers come together to give their time and compassion to help others. It’s incredible to watch.”
The Red Cross is planning additional volunteer opportunities and training sessions for the coming months, including programs on smoke alarm safety, wildfire preparedness and hands-only CPR. Residents interested in volunteering or learning more about upcoming events can contact Fox at Erin.Fox@redcross.org or visit redcross.org for details.
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