County Support for Mountain Residents Returning Ho
Incident: Slide Wildland Fire
Released: 11/2/2007
Contact: Terri Williams at (909) 387-4692
Denise L. Benson,
Division Manager
San Bernardino County Fire Department
Office of Emergency Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
County Support for Mountain Residents Returning Home
SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS - To inspire hope and provide a symbol of re-growth and beauty, potted flowers were delivered to each home that was damaged or destroyed in the Grass Valley and Slide fires in the San Bernardino Mountains. The pots include a flowering plant in full bloom, an American flag and a support card reading, "Our heartfelt support is with each of you during this difficult time." The support cards are signed from "County of San Bernardino Board of Supervisors, Office of Emergency Services, and all County Employees." The County wants the flowerpots to show the care and concern all San Bernardino County officials and employees feel for the wildfire evacuees.
In an effort to provide safety and health information and materials, the Department of Public Health has been able to provide kits for residents returning to evacuated communities in the San Bernardino Mountains. Thanks to generous contributions from Home Depot, practical items like gloves, shovels, and sifters are being provided to residents returning to the damaged and destroyed homes. Home Depot employees worked tirelessly through the day and night this past week, to hand-build almost six hundred (600) sifters for people to filter through ashes and debris to salvage their belongings.
Re-entry kits for the damaged and destroyed homes in the Grass Valley and Slide fires were distributed by the Department of Public Health Environmental Health Services employees, the Rim of the World High School Cross Country team, and many other volunteers. The home re-entry kits that residents
with damaged homes received included additional items for safety and comfort
including face masks, plastic bags, tissue, lip balm. Moist towelettes were donated
by local restaurants including Famous Dave's in Redlands, BJ's, Red Lobster,
and the Elephant Bar in San Bernardino.
For a safe re-entry, residents are being informed about food safety information because power outages may have caused food in refrigerators and freezers to thaw. Food that has not been kept continuously cool for a long period of time may cause illness, especially foods like milk, cheese, meat, and leftovers. Special bins have been set-up in the mountain communities that were under mandatory evacuations to dispose of spoiled food.
During the site visits, the Department of Behavioral Health had teams of counselors on-site roaming the areas and providing comfort to returning residents and staff from the County and other various agencies assisting residents. The collaborative effort of private businesses and County agencies shows the true spirit of San Bernardino County.
For more information about environmental health and safety, visit the Department of Public Health Web site at www.sbcounty.gov/dph/. For ongoing disaster recovery information, please visit the County Web site at http://www.sbcounty.gov/ and click on the Disaster Recovery link.
