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N
BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPA

S

"Dedicated To Your Safety"

DEPARTMENT

Floyd Tidwell
Sheriff

TESTIMONY OF FLOYD TIDWELL, SHERIFF OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY

COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA; SEPTEMBER 8, 1983

THE COLORADO RIVER SITUATION

GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY. MY NAME IS
FLOYD TIDWELL, SHERIFF OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

I AM ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSIBLE FOR EMERGENCY
MATTERS THROUGHOUT THE 20,000 SQUARE MILES OF THE COUNTY. I WILL
MAKE MY REMARKS BRIEF CONCERNING THE CURRENT SITUATION ALONG THE
COLORADO RIVER AS THEY EFFECT OUR JURISDICTION.

BEGINNING THE FIRST OF JUNE A COMBINATION OF A LONG, COLD WINTER,
A RECURD SNOWFALL LATE IN THE SPRING, AND A SUDDEN WARM SPELL
PRECIPITATED THE EXTRAORDINARY CONDITIONS WE ARE ENCOUNTERING
ALONG THE RIVER. I WILL NOT DWELL ON THE FLOWS THROUGH THE DAMS
NOR THE CURRENT WATER LEVELS SINCE THESE ARE ALREADY WELL DOCUMENTED
AND A MATTER OF RECORD. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE EMERGENCY
ACTIONS TAKEN IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY TO COPE WITH THESE CONDITIONS,

Post Office Box 569, San Bernardino, CA 92403
Telephone: (714) 383-3731

THE PRESENT CONSEQUENCES, AND MEANS WHERE BY THEY MIGHT BE MITIGATED.

AS IT BECAME INCREASINGLY APPARENT THAT THIS COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO
TAKE SOME POSITIVE ACTIONS TO DEAL WITH THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES,
IN MID-JUNE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ASSISTED BY THE COUNTY FIRE
WARDEN AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY ORGANIZED A
FORWARD COMMAND POST AT THE SHERIFF'S STATION AT NEEDLES WITH A
SUBORDINATE ELEMENT AT THE COUNTY FIRE STATION AT THE PARKER STRIP.
AN ADMINISTRATIVE COMMAND POST WAS ALSO ESTABLISHED IN SAN BERNARDINO
TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS AT THE RIVER. THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM
WAS USED TO COORDINATE OPERATIONS AND SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS WERE
INSTITUTED. WARNING AND EVACUATION PROCEDURES FOR THE PUBLIC'S
SAFETY IN THE CITY OF NEEDLES AND ALONG THE PARKER STRIP DOWNSTREAM
FROM LAKE HAVASU WERE ALSO ESTABLISHED IN THE EVENT OF RAPID RIVER
RISE. FLIGHTS ALONG THE RIVER WERE MADE TO CHECK FOR FLOODING
AND ASSIST IN EVACUATIONS WHEN NEEDED. WE PREPARED EVACUATION
PLANS AND ASSISTED IN THE FEW EVACUATIONS THAT WERE NECESSARY.
FLOOD PATROLS AND LOOTER PATROLS WERE CARRIED OUT BY AIRCRAFT AND
GROUND UNITS. WE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM F.E.M.A.
IN COMPLIANCE WITH REQUEST FROM LOCAL CITIZENS AND ASSESSMENTS
OF THE SITUATION WE COORDINATED RIVER CLOSURES WITH THE U.S. COAST
GUARD. SANDBAGGING BY THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS WAS
ARRANGED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN CONCERT WITH THE CITY OF NEEDLES.

OTHER PUBLIC PROTECTIVE MEASURES WERE INSTITUTED AND HAVE CONTINUED
UNTIL NOW. THIS TO DATE COUPLED WITH DAMAGE TO PUBLIC FACILITIES
AMOUNTS TO ALMOST $1,000,000. WHILE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO
ACCURATELY ASSESS PRIVATE LOSSES THE EFFECT ON LOCAL BUSINESS HAS
BEEN DEVASTATING. THE LOSS OF REVENUE AND THE LOSS OF PRIVATE
AND REAL PROPERTY IS ESTIMATED TO BE WELL OVER TWO MILLION.
ADDITIONALLY, LOSSES SUFFERED BY RESORT OPERATORS TO DATE IS
BETWEEN 1.5 AND 2 MILLION DOLLARS (RESORT OWNERS ESTIMATE). SOME
OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE IN DANGER OF TOTAL FAILURE.

ANTICIPATING A LONG TERM SITUATION, WE PUT TOGETHER A CONTINGENCY PLAN TO HANDLE ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER. THE PLAN INCLUDED SEVERAL ASSUMPTIONS:

A. LONG TERM SOIL SATURATION IN LOW LYING AREAS WITH

RESULTANT STRUCTURAL CONCERNS

B. GRADUAL EROSION OF RIVER BANKS

C. SEEPAGE THROUGH SANDBAG REVETMENTS

D.

DAMAGE TO WASTE WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES

E. SILTING AND CHANNEL SHIFTS

F. SILTING BEHIND DAMS

G. WATER RECESSION AND POOLING ACCOMPANIED BY A PRO

LIFERATION OF PESTS SUCH AS MOSQUITOS AND BLACK FLIES

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