First Responders Brace for Storm Impacts

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputies issuing evacuation notices door to door (Photo: SBSO)

Source: County of Santa Barbara

All Santa Barbara County south coast fire and law enforcement agencies have come together in preparation of the major winter storm arriving tonight. Over the next 24 hours these agencies will be increasing response capabilities with additional personnel and equipment.

“Recognizing the significant threat that this storm poses to residents along the Santa Barbara south coast, we have pre-positioned a significant amount of personnel and equipment to respond to any emergency which might occur,” Montecito Fire Protection District Division Chief Kevin Taylor, one of the incident commanders for this storm system. “Should the storm dictate, we also have at the ready resources from throughout the state that we can draw on to respond to the needs of our community,” he added.

In addition to regular staffing levels, the following additional equipment and personnel will be located in strategic locations throughout the south coast to be ready for immediate response.

Fire Engines: 10
Four-wheel Drive Fire Engines: 13
Fire Patrol Vehicles: 4
Fire Hand Crews: 3
Ambulances: 3
Four-wheel Drive Ambulances: 1
National Guard Water Rescue Vehicles: 10
Helicopters: 2
Excavators: 1
Bulldozers: 1
SB Sheriff Deputies: 30
SB City Police Officers: 5
Regional Task Force: 4
Water Rescue Teams: 4

Additional air resources from the U.S. Coast Guard, Air National Guard and Ventura County Fire helicopters are on standby for response.

The emergency operation centers for Santa Barbara County, city of Santa Barbara and the city of Carpinteria have been activated.

Public works agencies from Santa Barbara County and the cities of Carpinteria and Santa Barbara are also activated and have personnel in the field to support the public safety response.

“We have staged equipment on multiple south coast roads and have roadway assessment teams in place to respond quickly to any issue we may encounter from this storm,” said Scott McGolpin, director of Public Works for Santa Barbara County. Creek channels, roadways, culverts and bridges will all be monitored for flooding as well as debris flow.

Stay Connected:

It is critical that people in Santa Barbara County register to receive emergency alerts. Sign up for Aware and Prepare emergency alerts at www.ReadySBC.org. If we can’t reach you, we can’t alert you.
For updates through social media, follow @countyofsb on Twitter and Facebook. For general information, call 2-1-1 from 805 area code or 800-400-1572 outside of 805, or text your zip code to 898-211.