The San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services (County OES) provided an overview to the SBCTA Board on its critical role in coordinating emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts across the county. The presentation emphasized how County OES works with local jurisdictions, first responders, and partner agencies to strengthen regional readiness in the face of natural disasters, wildfires, and other emergencies.
The discussion complemented SBCTA’s ongoing leadership in advancing climate resilience and evacuation planning through two major initiatives funded by Caltrans’ Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program—the Emergency Evacuation Network Resilience (EENR) Study and the Evacuation and Resilience Center Design (ERCD) Study. Together, these efforts aim to assess regional transportation vulnerabilities, improve evacuation routes, and identify opportunities to create local resilience centers equipped to support residents during climate-related emergencies.
The EENR Study, led jointly by SBCTA and the Western Riverside Council of Governments, focuses on identifying infrastructure improvements to enhance evacuation redundancy and strengthen long-term climate resilience. The ERCD Study centers on San Bernardino County, pinpointing communities needing additional access routes while developing localized evacuation strategies and exploring micro-grid–powered resilience centers that can operate independently during disasters.
By working closely with County OES and regional partners, SBCTA continues to build a stronger, more connected approach to emergency preparedness that ensures communities across San Bernardino County are equipped with the tools, data, and infrastructure needed to respond swiftly and safely in times of crisis.