OES MISSION STATEMENT
“Through leadership and guidance, strengthen countywide
emergency management capabilities to ensure the protection of
life and property before, during and after disasters.”
When the Earth Shakes
By Klasha Ray
The biggest earthquake to occur in Southern California in
two decades recently hit one of the smallest towns in San
Bernardino County. On July 4, a 6.4 magnitude quake shook
the remote desert town of Trona, population 1900; then, like
a returning thief in the night, a 7.1 magnitude aftershock
hit the town the following day. The San Bernardino County
Office of Emergency Services (OES) was quick to respond
by activating the emergency operations center, or EOC, to
coordinate with county departments in recovery efforts.
On July 6, San Bernardino County proclaimed a local emer-
gency, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation de-
claring a state of emergency and requested a presidential
declaration of a major emergency. Just after midnight on
that day, agency representatives from ICEMA (Inland Coun-
ties Emergency Medical Association), San Bernardino Coun-
ty Public Health, Behavioral Health, Sheriff, Cal OES, Cal
Guard (National Guard) and utilities representatives were
on site at the operational area (OA) EOC. All the while, over
the next few days the town would suffer through continuous
aftershocks ranging between 2 to 5.4 in magnitude.
By 4:30 p.m. on July 6 the OA EOC had established a com-
modity point of distribution (CPOD) for bottled water at Tro-
na High School with operations from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
The Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) deployed
to the CPOD to supply sandwiches and MREs during CPOD
hours. Emergency Communications Service volunteers, the
Community Emergency Response Team and Cal Guard as-
sisted with the distribution of goods. Within 24 hours the
CPOD would also house portable toilets and showers. To
ensure all residents could utilize these important resources
County OES ensured accessible facilities were provided for
people with disabilities and others with access and func-
tional needs. San Bernardino County animal care and con-
trol teams were also deployed to assist with loose animals
and the Department of Behavioral Health deployed a crisis
response team to support the community with basic mental
health services.
On July 8 the President Trump signed an emergency declaration which would make
life-saving resources such as food, water, medical supplies and additional search
and rescue teams available if needed. The OA EOC partnered with Victor Valley Tran-
sit Authority to provide shuttle service for residents from Trona High School to the
American Red Cross shelter in Ridgecrest. The town of Trona was still without water
and the OA EOC partnered with the San Bernardino County National Voluntary Orga-
nizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) to coordinate distribution of goods at local faith
based organizations. Private corporations such as Home Depot, Vons and Nestle
54 FIREWIRE • FALL 2019
delivered goods that were distributed at the CPOD and local
churches.
A town hall meeting took place on the morning of July 10,
with and the local assistance center (LAC) opening that
same day. Through coordination with county departments,
OES stood up the LAC on July 10 in the Trona High School
gym. This was following the town hall meeting conducted by
local and county leaders to provide additional information
to Trona residents. The mission of the LAC is to assist the
community by providing a centralized location for services
and resource referrals for unmet needs following a disaster
or significant emergency. Some of the federal, state, local
and nonprofit agencies represented in the LAC included the
Department of Motor Vehicles, California Department of
Insurance, County of San Bernardino Department of Aging
and Adult Services, County Land Use Services, American
Red Cross and VOAD. The LAC serviced a total of 1,599
residents between July 10 and 18.
Employee Spotlight:
Klasha Ray
Meet Klasha Ray, our newest emergency services officer with
the San Bernardino Fire, County Office of Emergency Services.
Klasha joined the County OES family in September 2018 and
comes to us from the state of Tennessee, where she worked
as a managed care specialist supervisor for the state’s Med-
icaid program. Prior to that, Klasha was in the United States
Air Force for six years, serving as a health services manager.
During her time with the Air Force, she deployed as part of the
Joint Base Andrews Air Force 459th Aeromedical Evacuation
Squadron in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where
crews and critical care transport teams moved patients via
aircraft from overseas back to the United States.
Klasha has extensive experience in the healthcare sector and
received her associate degree in health care administration
through the Air Force and her bachelor’s degree in legal stud-
ies with an emphasis in health care policy from the Univer-
sity of California, Riverside. Although she is no longer in the
healthcare field, as an emergency management professional
Klasha is able to transfer many of her skills into the programs
that she manages with OES. Currently, she oversees the emer-
gency management program for the City of Upland, is respon-
sible for developing the Assistance Center Plan, and ensures
that the Valley Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is ready
to respond when disaster strikes.
Recently, Klasha was deployed to Trona for three weeks to
help victims of the earthquake. Most of her time was spent in
the local assistance center and later the recovery center. Her
time spent in Trona highlighted the importance of individual
and community preparedness as well as the need for local
agencies to be ready and able to respond to residents’ needs
in times of crisis. What she experienced in Trona helped her
not only with real-world applications for the assistance center
plan, but also showed her who needed to be brought to the
table to ensure that the plans are successful when imple-
mented to help a community recover from a natural or man-
made disaster.
Klasha is a born and raised Californian and is happy to be
back. She currently lives in Menifee with her two beautiful
daughters, Jordan and Kennedy, and their dog, Sweets. In her
spare time Klasha loves to collect first edition books and also
works part-time as a group trainer and fitness influencer. Kla-
sha also enjoys reading science fiction novels and watching
movies, especially movies based on comic book characters.
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The LAC was eventually demobilized and the county transi-
tioned to a recovery center to continue assisting residents
in recovery efforts on a smaller scale by focusing on pro-
viding the most needed services to the community. At the
recovery center, Land Use Services offered a $1,500 fee
waiver for permits, serviced 94 residents and performed 45
home inspections between July 19 and 31. During that time
frame County of San Bernardino Department of Aging and
Adult Services serviced 72 residents at the recovery center,
performed 35 home visits and issued gift cards to senior
and disabled residents.
County OES coordinated cost recovery efforts by compiling
damage assessment information provided by the Office of
the Fire Marshal for Cal OES and FEMA inspection teams
in the days following the earthquake. While there was not
enough damage to warrant Individual Assistance from FEMA
for Trona residents, County OES was able to secure Califor-
nia Disaster Assistance Act funding to assist responding
agencies with up to 75 percent cost reimbursements.
County OES continues to provide long-term recovery coordination with local state
and federal agencies to assist the community of Trona.
This is emergency services officer Klasha Ray’s first submission to FIREWIRE—welcome aboard
our team! You can read about her in the accompanying employee profile on these pages.
FALL 2019 • FIREWIRE 55