San Bernardino County declares local emergency after heavy rains damage homes and roadways

San Bernardino County on Dec. 29 announced a local emergency after heavy rain and mud-and-debris flows damaged homes and washed out bridges in mountain and foothill communities.

The county said the proclamation was signed by the county chief executive on Dec. 25 and the Board of Supervisors held a special meeting Dec. 29 to ratify that declaration. “Our communities experienced a devastating storm over the holidays,” Supervisor Don Rowe said, describing homes damaged, people displaced and neighborhoods cut off.

County officials said dozens of homes were severely damaged by mud and debris flows originating in recently burned areas upstream of Wrightwood. Raging waters also washed out the only bridges serving neighborhoods in Lytle Creek, temporarily stranding residents. The county’s Emergency Operations Center has been activated to coordinate with partner agencies and keep residents informed.

The county advised residents to consult prepare.sbcounty.gov for preparedness information and resources. County officials credited Caltrans with emergency work under way to restore safe access on State Route 38 and said crews are working to repair washed-out roadways.

The transcript for the county news segment notes the Board held a special meeting to ratify the CEO’s proclamation; the video transcript does not include a recorded roll-call vote or tally in the on-record audio. The county’s Emergency Operations Center is responsible for coordinating response and requests for assistance; residents seeking local guidance were directed to the county preparedness website.

Next steps listed by the county include continued road and bridge repairs, coordination with state agencies for mountain community access, and public information updates through county channels.