Ridgecrest students await for local community college to re-open

RIDGECREST, Calif. — Luck is an understatement for instructor Jeff Welsh and several students who have summer courses at the Cerro Coso Community College.

"No fatalities and to my knowledge no serious injuries," Welsh explained.

An unfortunate turnout however, for the college itself. On their Facebook page the school announced their facility experienced substantial damage, a disheartening turnout after a three-year multi-million dollar remodeling project, according to Welsh.

"I'm really glad that it wasn't Fall that this has happened here, because the potential for damage and injury of course, is much higher than it would have been." Welsh added.

The school announced that the entire campus will remain closed until building inspectors complete their assessment.

Throughout the day, Police Chief Jed McLaughlin said inspectors where scheduled to check buildings for structural damage. Just one of the many tasks in order to the city back on its feet.

Several residents from Ridgecrest, Trona and neighboring towns are still seeking assistance from the Red Cross at the Kerr McGee Community Center.

"We have no gas no water, the power was going on and off," resident Julie Jean Hammerbacker told 23ABC. "There's some really good friends of mine whose house was flagged, they don't have anywhere to live now."