After the 1/9 Debris Flow,the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade recruited, trained, and deployed more than 3,000 volunteers to help Montecito recover from the worst natural disaster in Santa Barbara County history. In the process, the Bucket Brigade developed a solution to the rapidly growing problem of natural disaster recovery. We call this model Community Self-Rescue. CSR uses the people and resources within a community to respond directly to a crisis. Instead of waiting for outside agencies to supply assistance, CSR empowers the community to take responsibility for its own recovery, working as a team to help survivors get their lives back on track.

CSR relies on volunteer recruitment, coordination, and a deployment system modeled on the Incident Command System used by first responders. CSR leverages local wisdom applied by trusted residents to deliver needed relief supplies and services quickly and effectively.  Using CSR, organized local agencies align with businesses and philanthropic groups for equipment, volunteer meals, funding, and networking.

Our primary focus for the coming year is the expansion of our field-tested method for Community Self-Rescue. Our aim is to build a countywide network of prepared neighborhoods ready to assist each other in a time of need.

Last year while digging out a home in the Montecito Oaks neighborhood, Bucket Brigade cofounder Josiah Hamilton had an idea: Wouldn’t it be cool if a crew of people who lost their jobs because of the disaster could get paid to clean up the public right of way and build a real public trail? Everybody laughed, “Yeah, right!”

Turns out, Hamilton was onto something.

Among its widespread destruction, the 1/9 Debris Flow wiped out numerous public trails, bridges, and safe walking routes to Montecito schools, beaches, and businesses. To address this problem along the Montecito Creek corridor, the Bucket Brigade launched a collaborative project to clean up and restore the popular but rudimentary walking path along North Jameson Lane. The project has employed upward of 20 men and women organized through the Workforce Development Board of Santa Barbara County and paid by federal disaster-relief funding.

In May, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new walking trail drew nearly three dozen community members to North Jameson. When complete, the trail will provide safe and convenient pedestrian access between the existing San Ysidro Road footpath and the Coast Village Road business corridor.

This neighborhood trail restoration project is a true collaboration between community groups, local government, businesses, and foundations. We’d like to thank our partners: Montecito Trails Foundation, Montecito Community Foundation, Montecito Association, Santa Barbara County Public Works Department, Steve Hanson Landscaping, All Around Irrigation, Hayward Lumber, Mac Brown Excavating, Steve Nuttal Trucking, and Giffin Rental.

We have seen the future — and it involves shovels, smiles, and a safe route to school.