San Bernardino County holds after-action review to strengthen future emergency response

County Fire | CountyWire | Office of Emergency Services
Attendees sit in a conference room during a “Strengthening Our Response” training, viewing a slide on After Action Reviews.

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Attendees sit in a conference room during a “Strengthening Our Response” training, viewing a slide on After Action Reviews.
Attendees sit in a conference room during a “Strengthening Our Response” training, viewing a slide on After Action Reviews.

On Feb. 25, the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services (OES) met with partnering agencies for an After-Action Review, or AAR, following the December storm emergency that impacted communities across San Bernardino County. The goals of the AAR process are continuous improvement, a stronger coordinated response and enhanced recovery efforts for future emergencies.

The AAR focuses on:

  • Information gathering: Collecting input from participating departments, partner agencies, and stakeholders through debriefs, surveys and documentation review.
  • Strengths and areas for improvement: Identifying what worked well and where gaps, challenges or coordination issues occurred.
  • Root cause analysis: Determining underlying causes of any operational issues rather than focusing solely on surface-level problems.
  • Corrective actions: Developing specific, measurable action items to address identified gaps, including assigning responsibility and timelines.
  • Improvement plan tracking: Monitoring progress on corrective actions to ensure improvements are implemented and sustained.

The AAR process provides an opportunity to evaluate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) coordinated response, assess overall performance and identify areas for improvement. Conversations during an AAR are a vital part of emergency management and help ensure we give all stakeholders a voice in the EOC activation and thereby build stronger relationships with our partners.

By examining our response efforts during a real-world incident, we reinforce what worked well and refine strategies to better serve our residents during future emergencies.

Preparedness is ongoing. Coordination is intentional. Improvement never stops.

We thank all partner agencies and personnel who supported the December response and participated in this important discussion. Together, we remain committed to protecting lives and enhancing resilience throughout San Bernardino County.

Additional County Update News – March 5, 2026

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