• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Science
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Tech
In Southern California, Snow Has Trapped People for Days

In Southern California, Snow Has Trapped People for Days

March 3, 2023
An Asparagus Tart for Spring

An Asparagus Tart for Spring

March 20, 2023
African American Film Critics Association Names 2023 Special Achievement Awards Recipients

African American Film Critics Association Names 2023 Special Achievement Awards Recipients

March 20, 2023
Meta Manager Was Hacked With Spyware and Wiretapped in Greece

Meta Manager Was Hacked With Spyware and Wiretapped in Greece

March 20, 2023
Houston teens arrested in caught-on-camera ‘jugging’ robbery that left woman paralyzed

Houston teens arrested in caught-on-camera ‘jugging’ robbery that left woman paralyzed

March 20, 2023
South Africa’s radical Left party orders national shutdown to oust Cyril Ramaphosa

South Africa’s radical Left party orders national shutdown to oust Cyril Ramaphosa

March 20, 2023
Nepal PM wins confidence vote in parliament

Nepal PM wins confidence vote in parliament

March 20, 2023
Iraqi beauty queen who served with US troops takes on woke Dems, says she had to speak up against AOC, ‘Squad’

Iraqi beauty queen who served with US troops takes on woke Dems, says she had to speak up against AOC, ‘Squad’

March 20, 2023
Sister of Idaho victim Kaylee Goncalves says she will ‘be in denial forever’

Sister of Idaho victim Kaylee Goncalves says she will ‘be in denial forever’

March 20, 2023
UN reports devastating climate impacts to hit faster than expected

UN reports devastating climate impacts to hit faster than expected

March 20, 2023
‘The Simpsons’ Bring Back Jacques Character & Fans Call Out Plot Hole

‘The Simpsons’ Bring Back Jacques Character & Fans Call Out Plot Hole

March 20, 2023
Kathy Hilton thought Paris got her a puppy during baby reveal: ‘Complete shock’

Kathy Hilton thought Paris got her a puppy during baby reveal: ‘Complete shock’

March 20, 2023
A Clear Message From Science

A Clear Message From Science

March 20, 2023
DNYUZ
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Gaming
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
DNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News

In Southern California, Snow Has Trapped People for Days

March 3, 2023
in News
In Southern California, Snow Has Trapped People for Days
18.3k
SHARES
52.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

John Radleigh thought he was ready for the snowstorm that pounded the mountains in Southern California for a week. A general contractor who has lived for more than five decades in Lake Arrowhead, a vacation hamlet, he had a backup generator and gas for his snowblower. He had enough food to hunker down with his family and chains for his car tires.

And yet, he said, he found himself in a kind of Sisyphean struggle each day. Every time he cleared the snow from his driveway, it would just pile back up.

“It’s a little discouraging,” Mr. Radleigh, 63, said. “It’s so much — the most I’ve ever seen since I’ve been out here.”

In the aftermath of a blizzard that left parts of Southern California buried under as much as 10 feet of snow, emergency workers and volunteers were still scrambling on Friday to help scores of residents and tourists who were unaccustomed to the sheer amount of precipitation — and all of the problems that come with it.

Although the sun has been shining since the storm ended on Wednesday, imposing snow berms still trapped people in cabins and cars in driveways, preventing them from leaving Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Mountain, normally popular destinations for day-tripping skiers and snowboarders from Southern California. Many have run low on food and prescription medicines.

Natural gas lines were fractured, sparking five fires in two days, officials said. When firefighters arrived to extinguish the flames, they found hydrants encased in ice and feet of snow.

On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in 13 counties affected by winter storms, including the ones that are home to Yosemite National Park, which has been closed indefinitely, and Lake Tahoe. But his declaration focused in particular on San Bernardino County, which has drawn greater attention because it is less accustomed to the volume of snow that fell there in recent days.

Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said that the mountains in San Bernardino County had become particularly treacherous not only because the weeklong storm was unusually cold and intense but also because many Southern California visitors might have underestimated its punch.

“It’s a place people can get to from Los Angeles quickly, so there’s a mix of people who are not necessarily used to these types of risks and challenges,” he said. “They may have been prepared for several days of snow, but then they’re trapped.”

The narrow, winding roads leading into the mountain communities, he noted, can be difficult to navigate on a good day.

The state sent snow plows and crews from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, as well as the California National Guard, to help dig out residents.

CalDART, a network of pilots who volunteer to help with disasters, helped orchestrate deliveries to people in need. Zachary Oliver, who owns On the Mountain Marine and Storage, a boat repair and storage business on Lake Arrowhead, said he had helped coordinate those flights.

“It was food, medicine and baby supplies,” he said. “Nobody has formula or diapers — that’s a big one we’re needing up here.”

The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department used helicopters on Thursday to deliver boxes of meals ready to eat, packages more typically associated with the military or backpackers, to help sustain people stuck in the mountains.

Trapped residents said they didn’t have any idea when they would be able to leave. And those who had escaped the storm waited anxiously at the foot of the mountains to return.

David and Daphne Salas said they were grateful to be part of one of the first caravans allowed up to Lake Arrowhead on Tuesday, after they had spent last weekend out of town. They followed the hazard lights of a Stater Brothers grocery delivery truck through the fog. They passed abandoned cars.

When they reached their home, their neighbor, Mr. Radleigh, had helped clear space for their cars.

“We basically had to crawl like lizards up the hill with our groceries,” Mr. Salas, 51, said. Then they had to dig their way through to their front door.

Since then, the family has been trying to keep their spirits up, gazing at the nine-foot icicles and trying to keep their dog, a Shar-Pei pit bull named Sonny, from sinking into the snow like quicksand. They have been stretching what Ms. Salas, 50, estimated is about four more days’ worth of meat, pastas, rice, beans and tortillas.

“It’s beautiful but dangerous right now,” she said. “We can’t even go out to enjoy it.”

In a Friday news conference, San Bernardino County officials sought to reassure residents that help was on the way.

“Folks, we’re here for you,” Sheriff Shannon Dicus said. “We’re going to dig you out, and we are coming.”

Still, Sheriff Dicus emphasized that the networks of state highways, side roads and even driveways were like the arteries, veins and capillaries of a big body and said it would take time to clear them. Crews have made progress forging a narrow path for vehicles along many roads, but they have been unable to create much room for cars to stop or pass. In many cases, they still need to dig through walls of snow to create passageways on each property for people and vehicles to depart.

Officials said it could be at least another week before they would allow access to the mountain communities for anyone beyond residents and emergency crews.

Officials urged residents to hunker down, if they could, and stretch their food stores, as it was remained unclear when grocery stores would be able to operate normally.

When Matt Zack arrived last week at Jensen’s Finest Foods, the family-run supermarket he co-owns in Blue Jay, not far from Lake Arrowhead, he knew snow was in the forecast. The store had stocked up on bread, milk, eggs, firewood and other staples — and locals had begun clearing them out. The store kept supplying people until early this week, when “the last effort” of the storm piled on another 18 inches of snow.

During previous storms, enough snow could be shoveled off the decades-old building to keep the roof from sagging. But when Mr. Zack climbed a ladder this time, he faced a pile about five feet high, he estimated. There simply wasn’t enough time, nor enough people, to sufficiently ease the load.

The roof was sagging, he noticed. A building inspector ordered the place closed, and Mr. Zack didn’t know when or if it would reopen. The roof of another grocery store, Goodwin and Sons, the only one in nearby Crestline, had fully collapsed. No one was hurt, but Mr. Zack said he knew it was painful to be out of commission during a time of so much need.

“It’s just that we’re here to serve the community,” said Mr. Zack, 54. “It’s heartbreaking.”

The post In Southern California, Snow Has Trapped People for Days appeared first on New York Times.

Share7304Tweet4565Share

Trending Posts

IPCC Says Current Plans Are ‘Insufficient to Tackle Climate Change’ As Emissions Keep Increasing

IPCC Says Current Plans Are ‘Insufficient to Tackle Climate Change’ As Emissions Keep Increasing

March 20, 2023
What Europe Can Do Next to Re-Contain Russia

What Europe Can Do Next to Re-Contain Russia

March 20, 2023
Woman mauled to death by neighbor’s dogs that she went to feed

Woman mauled to death by neighbor’s dogs that she went to feed

March 20, 2023
Northern Ireland’s DUP to vote against Windsor Framework Brexit deal

Northern Ireland’s DUP to vote against Windsor Framework Brexit deal

March 20, 2023
Today’s deals: $399 iPad 10, Philips Sonicare deals, $99 AirPods, APC battery backups, more

Today’s deals: $399 iPad 10, Philips Sonicare deals, $99 AirPods, APC battery backups, more

March 20, 2023

Copyright © 2023.

Site Navigation

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel

Copyright © 2023.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT