Climate Change, Improving Emergency Response, and Lessons Learned from Severe Winter Storms in San Bernardino County
Climate change is causing a myriad of extreme weather events worldwide. While the risk of excessive snowfall may not be a common topic in climate change discussions, it is becoming increasingly important to understand how our warming planet contributes to such phenomenon. San Bernardino County in California experienced severe winter storms in February and March, resulting in heavy snowfall in the mountain communities. The aftermath of these storms revealed significant deficiencies in emergency response and communication between local agencies and the public.
A series of winter storms over a three-week period dumped up to 11 feet of snow in western San Bernardino Mountain communities, leaving Crestline and Running Springs still struggling to recover six months later. It was later discovered, through extensive research of internal county emails and interviews with local officials, that the confusion and delayed response times could have been prevented with better communication and organization among the agencies involved.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department released a report acknowledging the gaps in communication and coordination that led to delays in providing essential supplies to residents and the spread of misinformation online. They have since implemented changes, such as equipping deputies with cell phones containing GPS tracking software and creating plans for distribution sites for food and supplies in advance.
Last week, state legislators presented San Bernardino County with $2.5 million in state funds to enhance their snow removal equipment, further aiding future response times. The county is also set to release its own evaluation of the storm response in November.
I spoke with my colleague, Beau Yarbrough, who has extensively covered the bungled response to these storms, to gain insights into the severity of the impacts and the lessons that can be learned from this experience. Yarbrough highlighted the unexpected intensity of the storm, which caught the mountain communities and local agencies off guard. Communication breakdowns between government agencies exacerbated the situation, and initial lack of coordination with volunteers led to the need for first responders to redirect their efforts. It is crucial for officials to address these issues and be better prepared for future extreme weather events.
An official report is still pending, but it is evident that both communication breakdowns and equipment shortages contributed to the response failures. The presentation of state funds for new snow removal equipment is a positive step towards addressing these deficiencies. However, it is worth considering if emergency response direction should be returned to the first responders, as it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yarbrough emphasized the need for local communities, especially popular tourist destinations like the mountain communities in San Bernardino County, to improve their preparedness for extreme weather events. This includes ensuring that short-term rental owners educate their guests about safety procedures during winter storms and provide necessary equipment, such as snow shovels.
This incident serves as a reminder that many communities lack the infrastructure required to effectively respond to future weather events caused by climate change. It would be beneficial for most local governments to proactively conduct evaluations and implement necessary measures to address potential challenges.
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