OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
Cindy Serrano cont.
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.”
Among Cindy’s accomplishments are a Bachelor of Science in business
management, an EMI/FEMA certificate of achievement in the Professional
Development Series, a CalOES/CSTI emergency management specialist cer-
tification, completion of the CERT Train-the-Trainer program, and graduate of
the San Bernardino County Management Leadership Academy. Cindy is also
a CESA member and past-board member and member of the International
Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).
By Cheryl Nagy, OES Division PIO
SIGNAL FOR SAFETY
Cindy’s dedication to propelling San Bernardino County OES into the state’s
premiere emergency services organization has always been evident. County
A MUST-HAVE FOR EVERY SCHOOL
Every day parents, grandparents and guardians send their
children off to school concerned about their safety. With this
in mind, County OES has developed a new program called
Signal for Safety, which will assist schools in enhancing their
emergency preparedness.
Signal for Safety is a system that allows schools to signal their status
to first responders following an earthquake or other disaster, using
colored flags displayed from a flagpole at the school site. Following
a disaster, first responders patrolling the communities performing
dashboard assessments can see by way of the color of the flag
flying in front of the school if help is needed or not and the level of
distress at each school site. A green flag signals that all is well and
help is not needed, yellow signals that there may be minor injuries
and that an apparatus or fire department resource should stop to
check with site staff, red signals that there is an emergency at the
scene and aid is required. Black signals that there may be a deadly
injury at the site and immediate assistance is required.
The program was designed so that each participating school would
be equipped with triage flags and triage training so that in the event
of an emergency the school sites can fly the color flag that rep-
resents the status of the health and wellbeing of the students and
staff at that site.
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Adelanto Schools
Big Bear Valley Unified School District
Chaffey Joint Union High School District
Fontana Unified School District
Lucerne Valley Unified School District
Rialto Unified School District
Rim of the World Unified School District
San Bernardino Community College District
San Bernardino City Unified School District
Silver Valley Unified School District
Snowline Joint Unified School District
Victor Valley Union High School District
For more information about the County OES Signal for Safety program
contact Emergency Services Officer David Davis at (909) 356-3998.
After nearly a decade of service, County OES Assistant Emer-
gency Services Manager Cindy Serrano retired in February. Cin-
dy started with the county in 1981 at Pub lic Works as a steno
clerk—which, she jokes, may no longer be a recognized title!
Cindy worked her way through the ranks among several depart-
ments, raising daughters Breanna and Michelle along the way
and attending after school activities like sports and FFA (Future
Farmers of America).
In 1988 Cindy left the county for the Town of Apple Valley as an
administrative secretary, earning an employee of the year award,
and in 1995 she promoted to the position of public informa-
tion officer. In 2000 she “earned her way into,” as she says, the
emergency preparedness manager position at the Apple Valley
Fire Protection District, winning yet another employee of the year
title and also starting her on a path in emergency management.
FIREWIRE • Spring 2018
By Kalina Cox
In June 2008, and having worked with County OES while at Ap-
ple Valley, Cindy accepted an emergency manager position here.
During her tenure she supervised as many as nine emergency
services officers (ESOs), and for 11 months in 2011/12 served
as the interim division manager.
With Cindy’s help, County OES received many awards and ac-
colades, including a CESA Gold Award for the County Mass
Care and Shelter Operations plan, a CESA Gold Award for the
Responders Organized for Pass Emergencies Field Operations
Guide and a CESA Silver Award for the County’s Web EOC pro-
gram. Each of the aforementioned programs also received Na-
tional Association of Counties achievement awards. County OES
has also updated and received state approval on the Hazard
Mitigation Plan and the County Emergency Operations plan, just
two among the many plans being developed and/or edited on
OES Emergency Services Manager Mike Antonucci says “Cindy has been a part
of this county for many years and in different capacities. But the greatest impact
she has had is on emergency management. Her pursuit of excellence has put
emergency management in the county and state at a higher level. Cindy’s efforts
with OES has allowed us to be the leader with the state and nation.”
Although Cindy will be missed, it doesn’t sound like she will be slowing down. She
is looking forward to “reorganizing—or should I say organizing—my house; travel;
attending grandkids events without having to ask for time off; reading books that
don’t have anything to do with management, leadership and/or after-action(!);
enjoying the rain (whenever it does) without worrying about flooding(!); looking
for a volunteer opportunity … my choice, my time; and having time to be more
physical … I’ve already challenged my 6-year old grandsons to a race around the
college track on my birthday. They can’t wait because they know they’re gonna
beat me, but wait and see—I think gramma has this!”
Cindy’s work-life/career has come full-circle, beginning and ending with the coun-
ty, and as you can see from the list of things she has planned, her sense of humor
has remained intact throughout a career in a field that is sometimes arduous
and emotional and always intense and demanding—the field of emergency man-
agement. On behalf of the San Bernardino County Operational Area and County
OES staff, please join us in congratulating Cindy on the many accomplishments
she has made and selfless long hours she has dedicated to her career and the
Operational Area in a field where “you have to be a little crazy to love it.”
To date the following schools and school districts
have shown interest in participating in the
OES Signal for Safety program:
Farewell to CINDY SERRANO!
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a daily basis. Cindy’s leadership and direction, coupled with her desire to
develop useful and accurate products beyond reproach, contributed to these
successes significantly.
Kalina Cox is a FIREWIRE assistant editor.
EMPLOYEE HIGHLIGHT
SHANNA JENSEN
Who is Shanna Jensen? As one of three new emergency services
officers, Shanna joined County OES in December 2017, bringing a
diverse range of experience. For example, she served six years in the
U.S. Army as a combat medic, deploying to Afghanistan as a lead
medic in 2009. Just prior to coming to OES, Shanna was the disaster
and safety coordinator for the San Bernardino County Department of
Behavioral Health.
Shanna shared that one of her proudest moments so far at County
OES was the day she was hired. In her new role, Shanna is assigned
to handle the following programs and projects: Community Points
of Dispensing planning, the statewide medical and health training
exercise, public health liaison, military liaison, high desert liaison,
high desert EOC readiness, Inland Empire Disabilities Collaborative
and access and functional needs.
Shanna carries a bachelor’s degree in health science from Cal Bap-
tist University and is currently working on her master’s degree in
public administration with an emphasis in emergency and disaster
management through Kaplan University. Shanna has some ambitious
career goals, including earning her emergency management certifi-
cation and CPR instructor recertification.
Hesperia serves as home base for
Shanna and her husband, Joel, her
5-year-old stepson Caleb, 2-year-
old daughter Abbie-Lynn and their
black lab, River. When not learning
more about emergency manage-
ment Shanna and her family enjoy
off-roading and camping. To de-
stress Shanna loves sewing, crafting and playing with her daughter.
Shanna lives by her favorite quote from author Eliezer “Elie” Wiesel. “We
are all teachers, or should be. Anyone who relays experience to another
person is a teacher. Not to transmit your experience is to betray it.”
County OES Emergency Services Manager Mike Antonucci recently said of
her, “Shanna came to OES by way of the military and then County Behav-
ioral Health, where she was our emergency management contact. Shanna
brings a level of experience and professionalism to our High Desert office
and is an asset for OES.”
Cheryl Nagy is public information officer
for San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services.
Spring 2018 • FIREWIRE
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