By Zoha Jan, Richard Mendoza, Vincent Medina
After harsh weather in California, governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in 13 counties including San Bernardino.
Multiple residents remain trapped in their homes under 10 feet of snow after back-to-back storms battered the area. First responders are attempting to find them, but continue to struggle under the harsh conditions.
San Bernardino sheriffs reduced two teenagers who were hiking in the mountains along the Pacific Crest Trail. They had not contacted their families in three days.
With limited visibility in the heavy snow, the teens were unable to remain on the trail. Authorities were able to find the pair after flying over them in a helicopter.
San Bernardino resident, Katy Curtis, hiked with snow shoes for five miles to get a can of gasoline to a family trapped in their house to fuel their generator.
“I thought I could walk and I did but it was probably the longest day of my life,” said Curtis. She explained cars are completely buried in snow, and it is piled up to the roof of her home.
“We’re just all so exhausted in every way,” she said.
Another strong storm is expected in Northern California this weekend. It’s expected to dump more snow on the mountain communities, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento.
There is also a slight chance of snow showers in the San Bernardino County mountains on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in San Diego.
Approximately 100 rescues have been performed in the county, including a sheriff’s deputy.
There are no estimates on the amount of damage to homes and buildings, but the county has yet to report any deaths or injuries.
With the additional snow Tuesday night, crews were out clearing roads and highways again in the badly hit county.
“This storm is unprecedented. Our National Weather Service said they issued out a blizzard warning for this storm,” said Brendon Biggs, the county’s public works supervisor. “This storm covered the entire mountain range with the heavy amount of snow.”
Resident of Crestline Sarah Muecke is one the people still stuck in her home and said she has never experienced a weather event like this during the time she has lived in the San Bernardino Mountains.
“That’s too much for local resources to keep up with,” Biggs continued. “A lot of state highways were buried, and so we are in the process of digging them out right now.”
Once the roads are clear, the county’s priority is to rescue and deliver food and fuel to the impacted residents in the mountain communities.
