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One bridge opening changed the mood overnight
After days of storm anxiety in San Bernardino County, a single update mattered a lot as the bridge into Lytle Creek’s Happy Jack area reopened. Residents who were effectively cut off finally had a reliable route again.
But reopening does not mean all is clear. Officials are still assessing the damage, clearing the mud, and urging everyone to travel only when necessary.
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The holiday storm hit multiple communities at once
This was not just a single-neighborhood problem. County officials reported impacts across Wrightwood, Lytle Creek, Piñon Hills, and Phelan, with flooding and debris flows leaving streets muddy and channels running with fast-moving water.
Photos and videos showed runoff carving through familiar roads and yards. When storms spread across multiple towns, recovery becomes a shared, coordinated effort, rather than a single cleanup project.
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A state of emergency signaled that the situation was serious
On Christmas Eve, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency for San Bernardino County as mud and debris flows were being reported. That declaration matters because it can speed up coordination and unlock resources when local agencies are stretched thin…