Who do I call in an emergency? This question has been actively addressed for several years, but a definitive solution has been elusive, at best. A few years ago Gary Stahl (Cabin 60) drafted emergency access maps, created refrigerator magnets with emergency phone numbers, and talked extensively with emergency services organizations about procedures and “best practices.” For whatever reasons, those organizations were never able to implement definitive emergency contacts and procedures. Consequently, we still have no good answers to our original question.
Our clear recommendation at this point is “do NOT call 911 on your cell phone.” Cell phone calls will be answered by someone unfamiliar with Big Bear and unable to be much help. If you have a "hard landline," calling 911 is OK. However, instead of calling 911 from your cell phone, call the local Big Bear emergency service providers directly. Make a list of those numbers and post the list prominently in your cabin. Also, put those numbers in the Contacts app on your cell phone.
Emergency Services numbers and related information are listed in the Emergency Services section of our Southwest Shore website, a link to which is easily found in the Quick Links section on our Home Page. However, some of those numbers may be administrative, “front office” numbers, rather than “Dispatch” numbers. Consequently, they may not be answered 24/7. If you have additions, corrections, or “improvements” to the numbers on the website, please let us know by using the website Contact Form.
We are working with the SBNF Coalition Committee (SBNFCC) on developing better Emergency Services procedures applicable to all the Forest Service Cabin Tracts in the Big Bear area. The SBNFCC represents all those tracts, and also has a good working relationship with the Forest Service. Hopefully, SBNFCC can influence local Emergency Services Providers (ESPs) to work together with us on this important project.
First, we need a better list of emergency contact numbers — i.e., numbers that are active 24/7 and connect quickly to “Dispatch” personnel. We will also need maps, much like those created by Gary Stahl a few years ago, which will actually get implemented by the ESPs in the Big Bear area. We need a way to give accurate, understandable location information to the various ESPs, so that they can get to our cabins quickly. As Gary quipped at the recent Annual Meeting, “if Dominos can deliver a pizza to us quickly when we call, why can’t the local ESPs find us in an emergency?” Good question!