By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
As any Boy or Girl Scout can tell you, it’s always best to “Be Prepared” for any pending disaster, whether it’s imminent (about to happen) or impending (happening in the future).
In an effort to keep the public informed of potentially pending disasters, several county and statewide government agencies attended a disaster preparedness meeting on Thursday, Nov. 5 at Crestline’s historic San Moritz Lodge, sponsored by the Crest Forest Senior Citizens Club.
A very real disaster now facing mountain residents is the so-called El Niño, the sudden appearance of unusually warm ocean conditions now working their way northward along the tropical west coast. This event is historically associated with adverse effects on fishing, agriculture and local weather. The two main concerns are precipitation intensity and duration. The ocean coast has already suffered some damage from this weather situation.
The meeting began with Alpine Mountaineer Publisher Cecilia Ponce de Leon informing an audience of some 120 concerned local citizens that they should know there are a lot of local resources available. They should become aware of them and how to access those resources.
Following a flag salute Ponce de Leon introduced Vicki Vargas, who asked the audience whether they had any flashbacks of the so-called “Snowmageddon” that had paralyzed the mountain communities. Many hands were raised as Vargas explained there was very little information at the time.
But what she saw, Vargas said, was “people helping people, people coming together. That’s why our town should be very proud of being so resilient.”
County Fire Battalion Chief Steven Tracy advised audience members not to pile snow on their gas meter.
Ashley James from Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s office announced that the supervisor has full confidence in all of the county departments to respond to any challenging situation.
Vargas then introduced Shane Massoud, representing Southern California Edison’s Government Affairs department. He spoke about the grid hardening work Edison has been doing, replacing poles and replacing bare wire with covered conductor that can withstand higher wind speeds and branches falling on the wires.
San Bernardino County Fire Assistant Chief Jason Serrano advised county residents to avoid getting trapped or washed away by rapidly running water, to seek safer grounds and to act in advance before roads close. He also suggested restocking household supplies and keeping a 30-day supply of necessary food, medicines and other useful items, including sandbags.
Lt. Jeremy Vasquez of the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station noted that pre-planning is important and that county agencies have been having meetings on this topic so they can respond when needed. Sheriff’s Capt. Craig Harris spoke of the importance of being a member of the county’s TENS telephone warning system which can notify you when it’s a safe time to evacuate. He also stressed the importance of choosing a family contact location and knowing at least two safe exit routes from your neighborhood and the mountain.
County Fire advised residents to protect their gas meters from snow and ice but never to box in the gas meter. They suggest keeping vents and shutoff valve and appliance exhausts unobstructed. It’s also vitally important to clear snow gently with a broom and never pile plowed snow against the meter or shelter.
County Fire also recommends residents plan for isolated roads, delayed deliveries and prolonged outages. They also advise keeping a first-aid kit and extra blankets and supplies for infants and older adults.
Ponce de Leon returned to the microphone to announce that Cal Fire can help with downloading some of the apps on your phone. She also advised picking up some of the dozens of free pamphlets with information on how to survive in a disaster zone available at the meeting.
A recording of the meeting is available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=TErjPCTi-oM.
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