EL CHICANo Weekly
Vol 63, NO. 39
July 02, 2026
Inland Leaders Urge Disaster Readiness Built On Trust, Equity And Resilience
IECN.com
Rialto Council Approves 2026-27 Budget, Issues Conditions for Internal Staffing Pg. 3
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Michelle Decker, CEO of the Inland Empire Community Foundation, delivers the keynote address during Building Resilient Communities’ ninth annual Ark of Safety Community Resiliency Summit at the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino on June 25.
By Manny Sandoval
B
efore a disaster strikes, Debra Williams wants Inland Empire residents to understand one thing: resilience begins long before the emergency alert, evacuation order or knock at the door. It begins with trust.
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Debra Williams, founding CEO of Building Resilient Communities, second from right in red, at the ninth annual Ark of Safety Community Resiliency Summit, which brought Inland Empire leaders together around disaster preparedness, equity and resilience.
Ark of Safety Community Resiliency Summit, hosted June 25 by Building Resilient Communities at the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino. The annual convening brought together faith leaders, health care advocates, educators, nonprofit professionals, public agencies and community organizers focused on strengthening the region’s ability to prepare, respond and recover before, during and after times of crisis.
That message shaped the ninth annual
For Williams, founding CEO of Building Resilient Communities, disaster preparedness is not just about go bags, emergency water or evacuation plans. It is about the barriers that leave some communities more vulnerable before a wildfire, earthquake, flood, pandemic or public health emergency ever begins. “Helping people get prepared for a disaster was not enough,” Williams said. “If Disaster Preparedness, Cont. next pg.
Metrolink Pushes Lifesaving Railroad Warning At San Bernardino Depot Before Holiday Travel Judith Valles, San Bernardino Trailblazer and First Hispanic Mayor, Dies Pg. 4
Preschool University Graduation Showcases Early Learning Pathway for Inland Empire Families Pg. 5
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PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Tracks at the San Bernardino Depot underscore Metrolink and California Operation Lifesaver’s safety message urging the public to recognize Emergency Notification System signs before a track emergency occurs.
By Manny Sandoval
B
efore sunrise at the San Bernardino Depot last week, Metrolink and California Operation Lifesaver delivered an urgent safety message to commuters: know the blue-and-white emergency signs at railroad crossings before seconds matter. The outreach, held in partnership with
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Marty Jimenez, center, displays a blue-and-white Emergency Notification System sign at the San Bernardino Depot, where Metrolink and California Operation Lifesaver urged riders to use the posted phone number and crossing ID to report track emergencies.
California Operation Lifesaver’s Emergency Notification System Sign Awareness Day initiative, highlighted the signs posted at every railroad crossing. The signs include a phone number and unique crossing identification number that help railroad dispatchers quickly locate an emergency, notify nearby train crews and, when necessary, stop rail traffic through the area.
The message comes weeks after a San Bernardino Line train struck an unoccupied vehicle on the tracks in Fontana. No injuries were reported. Officials also pointed to a widely seen 2022 incident near Pacoima, where a small plane crashlanded on railroad tracks before being struck by an approaching train. The pilot was pulled to safety before the collision. Metrolink, cont. next pg.