San Bernardino has been more than $1 million to improve disaster preparedness at water pump stations and for traffic signals, city officials said Wednesday.
Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino, secured the nearly $1.15 million grant administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support the installation of permanent backup power generators at water booster pump stations and battery backup systems for up to 50 traffic signals throughout the city.
“This is about preparedness, resilience, and protecting San Bernardino residents and businesses,” Mayor Helen Tran said in a statement. “The funding from Congressman Aguilar helps us deliver safer streets, improved emergency response, and greater continuity during power outages and emergencies.”
The wildfire disasters last year in Pacific Palisades and Altadena spurred San Bernardino officials to prioritize spending that reflects the critical need for maintaining reliable water infrastructure and electricity during emergencies. Lessons from the Palisades and Eaton Canyon fires showed how widespread power outages can hinder firefighting, disrupt emergency responders leading to greater threats to public safety during already perilous circumstances such as a wildfire.
“I’m proud to deliver more than $1 million for emergency water and infrastructure projects that will help reduce the impact of power outages and make it easier for first responders to do their job,” Aguilar said in a statement. “The upgrades to these backup energy systems will reduce the disruptions residents and firefighters experience when we lose power, especially during disasters like worsening wildfires.”
The FEMA-funded project will place permanent emergency generators at the Verdemont and Meyers/Magnolia water booster pump stations, officials said. The generators will maintain water pressure when primary electrical power is interrupted.
“Reliable water service is not just a convenience — it is essential for public health, firefighting capabilities, and protecting our neighborhoods during times of crisis,” City Councilwoman Kim Knaus said in a statement.
The project also calls for battery systems to provide backup electricity for up to 50 high-volume traffic lights citywide, allowing intersections to remain operational during power outages. Maintaining functional traffic signals is key to public safety during disasters, reducing congestion on the roads supports emergency response.
In recent years the city has experienced major wildfires, flooding, severe wind events and an ongoing risk of earthquakes associated with the San Andreas Fault, which cuts through northeast San Bernardino. Between October 2023 and January 2025, the Southern California Edison utility conducted 119 “Public Safety Power Shutoffs” that impacted nearly 35,000 San Bernardino residents, totaling more than 4,000 outage hours because of extreme fire-hazard and wind conditions.
“The need for backup emergency power supply is expected to grow as severe fire and wind conditions become more frequent,” Miguel Guerrero, general manager of the San Bernardino Municipal Water Department, said in a statement. “It is critical that water systems acquire onsite alternative power sources as part of contingency planning.”
Officials described the project as “a proactive and cost-effective investment to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure while reducing long-term disaster recovery costs.” Improving crucial infrastructure such as traffic signals and water pumps ahead of emergencies will reduce service disruptions, improve emergency response capabilities while also lessening the city’s reliance on future federal disaster assistance.
The city’s Office of Emergency Services provides public information on local disaster preparedness via its website.
