December Storm-Impacts Still Being Felt In Inland Empire's Mountain Towns

WRIGHTWOOD, CA — Pounding rain has stopped in the hard-hit Inland Empire community of Wrightwood, but the damage has been done. During December's storms, which delivered over 17 inches of rainfall in some areas, flooding, mudslides, and debris flows gutted homes, clogged roadways and destroyed homes and businesses.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved recovery fee waivers to help eligible property owners repair and rebuild following severe winter storms that started on Dec. 23, according to a recent board news release.

In the month following heavy rains, mountain and high-desert communities of Wrightwood, Lytle Creek, Phelan, Piñon Hills, and Hesperia, as well as multiple roadways, including areas near Mt. Baldy, are working to navigate ongoing impacts and begin long-term recovery.

On Monday, the San Bernardino County Fire’s inspection teams surveyed homes and businesses. The Office of the Fire Marshal completed a damage assessment and found two buildings were destroyed and 31 sustained major damage. Another 23 buildings sustained moderate damage, 37 sustained minor damage and a total of 93 buildings were categorized as “affected” by the storm, according to a recent news release from the Board of Supervisors.

Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe spoke on the recovery efforrts.

“Recovering from a disaster is hard enough without additional costs standing in the way,” Rowe said. “Waiving recovery fees removes barriers and helps families and property owners move forward safely and legally, so our communities can rebuild as quickly as possible.”

First District Supervisor Col. Paul Cook (Ret.), also spoke on the resilience of the residents.

“From the mountains to the high desert, residents have been dealing with damage, debris and disrupted access,” Cook said. "By reducing their out-of-pocket costs to rebuild, we’re helping residents and business owners get repairs started. We’ll keep coordinating across departments and with our partners to support a steady recovery.”

During Tuesday's meeting, the board approved waivers of San Bernardino County Land Use Services’ plan review and permit fees, up to $5,000 per property (both fees combined), with an aggregate countywide limit of $200,000, available on a first-come, first-served basis through June 30, 2027, for post-disaster recovery and repairs to properties in communities damaged by the December 2025 storms.

As a result of the board’s action, the Land Use Services’ plan review and permit process for impacted residents will be expedited.

The board also authorized San Bernardino County Public Works – Solid Waste Management to waive Standard Gate Rate Disposal fees for impacted property owners. This allows qualifying residents to dispose of acceptable debris at county landfills at no cost.

The waiver applies to properties identified by the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services in the Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Phelan and Hesperia areas, with a total waiver amount not to exceed $16,800, they said.

The program is limited to an estimated 48 residential properties, with a maximum of five tons per property, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through June 30, 2026.

Debris must be acceptable for disposal and cannot contain asbestos, hazardous materials or other unacceptable waste. For a detailed list of acceptable and prohibited materials at county landfills, visit the “Can I take it to the landfill” webpage.

On Christmas Day, in response to the storms, county CEO Luther Snoke proclaimed a local emergency, which was ratified by the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 29. This enabled the swift mobilization of resources and coordination with state and local partners.

Last week, emergency crews were in Wrightwood, Lytle Creek, Hesperia, Phelan, and Piñon Hills accompanying the U.S. Small Business Administration and state and county partners to conduct preliminary damage assessments and gauge needs.

The assessments help officials evaluate storm impacts and identify potential recovery resources.

As part of recovery support, the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services hosted a Local Assistance Center at the Rick Novack Community Center in Hesperia from Jan. 8 through Jan. 10.

Additional resources:

Resources include:

• San Bernardino County Land Use Services’ website: lus.sbcounty.gov.
• San Bernardino County Public Works – Solid Waste Management Division’s website: dpw.sbcounty.gov/solid-waste-management.
• San Bernardino County VOAD, in coordination with the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services, is supporting recovery and cleanup efforts for communities impacted by recent flooding and mudslides. For help with debris cleanup, call the California Floods Home Cleanup Hotline at 800-451-1954 (open through Jan. 23) or visit bit.ly/4bumkgu.
• For insurance-related assistance after flood and mudslide impacts, the California Department of Insurance consumer hotline is available in multiple languages at 800-927-4357.
• Visit prepare.sbcounty.gov.
• Sign up for San Bernardino County’s Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS) to receive emergency alerts such as evacuation warnings and orders for your area.
• Download the Ready SB County app to receive emergency alerts and safety information.