The disaster relief emergency shelter at Redlands East Valley High School is offering warmth, along with food and information about weather and roadways to residents of the San Bernardino Mountains stranded by recent storms.
The cold storm that’s pummeled the region has shut down the arteries into the mountains. More snow is on the way as another storm moves into the area.
Many people happened to be out of town before the weather picked up more and the roads were closed, leaving them unable to return home, according to David Foust, a volunteer American Red Cross shelter supervisor. He is running the shelter staffed by San Bernardino County employees from different departments.
Foust was at REV Tuesday morning, Feb. 28, ready to help.
Roads into the mountains have been shut down by icy, cold temperatures and heavy snow. More than 7 feet fell at the resorts in the San Bernardino Mountains by Sunday. In an effort to get help clearing the roads and getting to residents stuck in their homes, San Bernardino County declared a local emergency late Monday.
Edward Clark, came to the shelter Tuesday morning. He left the mountain to go to the hospital on Feb. 21. He was released on Thursday, Feb. 23, but the roads have been closed since and he’s been trying to return home. Clark has been living out of his truck until today, when he’s able to stay at the shelter at the Redlands school campus.
He’s hopeful he’ll be able to make it up the hill Tuesday, but it’s unclear yet if Caltrans will again offer escorts to residents. They said they’d announce at 11 a.m. whether they will again be providing escorts on the mountain roads and for how long.
“If traffic becomes inundated, we will stop the escorts from occurring,” Caltrans said in a tweet.
Clark says he’s one of many who are stuck in the area and that while he hasn’t seen it in person yet, believes his house is buried in snow.
He’s “waited patiently” and will try again to return home soon, he said, but is also in need of snow chains for his truck tires.
The shelter, which opened Monday, is now open 24 hours a day for those who need help, Foust said. American Red Cross officials said one person stayed overnight Monday night.
This is a developing story. Check back for more information.
Source: Orange County Register
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