On Monday (1/13) hundreds of Yucca Valley residents formed a line out the door of the Yucca Valley Community Center at the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services Resource Fair.
They were handing out bags with small battery powered lanterns, emergency resources, trash bags, gloves…
“… a solar battery charger, which is good for cell phones or whatever!”
Tascha Shelton thought that after the last couple of power outages caught her by surprise, she better start keeping some things handy at home.
“I was scrambling to find a store that was open to try to get batteries, flashlights, stuff like that.”
Along with some supplies to keep your phone and other essentials charged – information was one of the main takeaways from the event.
Marjorie Smith is the chair of the Morongo Basin VOAD – or Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.
“I’m in charge of all the volunteers in time of disasters for the Morongo Basin.”
Marjroie knows how to get volunteers. Betty came down to get some supplies for her 87 year-old neighbor… “and I thought I’d go by (the meeting) and Marjorie saw me and said ‘do you have a few minutes?’ and pulled me right out of line!”
“There’s always need for a volunteer.”
Marjorie says that along with some essentials, having a basic plan of action for any emergency is important. Power outages in the red-flagged wind storms were definitely the impetus for Monday’s community resource event. However, the wildfires in Los Angeles were on everyone’s mind and Marjorie focused on making sure people had the info on who they could contact in San Bernardino County along with a having personal emergency plan should one come up.
Marjorie: “… your family emergency plan, which is ‘what are you going to do if something happens?’ If it happened right now, what would you do and who would you contact?”
It seemed to be working. The event was quickly put together but just a few hours into the event over 300 residents had come through and received the supplies and info from County Emergency Services employees and volunteers.
For Tascha and her friend Renee, they were heading straight from the event to get some things ready at home..
Tascha: “I’m going to get a crate, and put some emergency supplies in there. Some of this that I got today. Because the fire isn’t going to wait on your to pack nothing. So if we get that warning, it’s grab and go.
Mother Nature has a mind of her own, so being prepared is the first step.”
San Bernardino County Emergency Resources
San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services – Extreme Winds / Power Outage resources
San Bernardino County Fire Protection District TENS Alert & Warning System
High Desert Emergency Action Alliance – Morongo Basin Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
