The County is preparing for rain. Should you?

Rain is expected to fall on the county’s snow-impacted mountain communities in the coming days. While San Bernardino County Public Works and County Fire crews prepare for this next round of precipitation, they are also warning residents to take measures to protect themselves and their property.

The coming rain is likely to quickly melt much of the snow, creating the threat of flooding. The rain could also add weight to snow perched on rooftops, increasing the threat of collapse. Showers could also loosen roof-top snow that has turned to ice, causing it to slide off in heavy, dangerous sheets.

In addition to the precautions recommended in the above graphic, residents should make sure they are signed up for emergency notifications and also download the SB Ready app. Residents can do both on the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District website.

Crews from the San Bernardino County Department of Public Works have been working around the clock since the start of the February blizzard to remove snow from roads. For the past several days they have also been working to prepare the County’s network of flood-control facilities for the coming rain.

In this video, Public Works Director Brendon Biggs discusses how his team is already at work protecting the community for whatever the coming rainstorms might bring.

A limited supply of sandbags will be available at County Fire District fire stations. Homeowners should not depend on this supply and ideally should plan to purchase bags from home improvement and hardware stores. Purchase sandbags early and make them a part of your emergency supplies so they will be available when you need them.

Additional sandbag information and sandbag locations can be found on County Fire’s website. Sandbags will also be available at the following locations:

• Valley of Enchantment Elementary School 22836 Fir Ln, Crestline

• Crestline Community Center 24385 Lake Dr, Crestline

• Rim of the World High School 27400 CA-18 Lake Arrowhead

• Charles Hoffman Elementary School 2851 Running Springs School Rd, Running Springs

• San Bernardino County Fire Station 30 26330 CA-18, Rimforest

• Big Bear Lake Residents: City of Big Bear Lake Public Works Yard 42040 Garstin Dr., Big Bear Lake

• Big Bear City Residents: Big Bear Fire Department, Station 282 (Please ring the bell at any of the station doors for assistance with sand bags) 301 W Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear City

Watch County Fire Battalion Chief Mike Wakoski discuss the appropriate use of sandbags.

County crews have now serviced 98 percent of County roads

Nearly all roads for which the County is responsible for maintenance have been made passable by County crews working around the clock, including 100 percent of the roads in Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, Blue Jay, Arrowbear, and Green Valley Lake.

See highlights of today's progress in this video. County crews have begun to revisit roads they have previously serviced to create second lanes.

These numbers do not include roads not within the County-Maintained Road System, such as private roads.