Berg communities in Southern California slowly emerges from the snow piles. Officials are now beginning the hard task of assessing damage and the death toll.
Minimum four bodies were discovered in They live in their own homes in The Big Bear Area of San Bernardino Shannon Dicus (county sheriff, coroner) declared that County was the first on March 2nd.
The number of deaths could increase. Sheriff Dicus claimed that eleven people were dead. in Since Feb. 23, all residents of the area, including patients at Bear Valley Community Hospital, have been affected. It is unknown if any of these deaths were directly caused by the snowstorms. His office did not provide additional information and was still reviewing all cases.
Sheriff Dicus’s office so far has only attributed to the storm the death of a 39-year-old woman who was killed in A hit-and run traffic collision occurred on February 26.
Local leaders and residents have claimed that they weren’t prepared for the strong storms that arrived first on February 21 and eventually surrounded their homes. in The snow can grow up to 10 feet tall. People began to run out of food, fuel, and medication. Many people experienced power cuts, and a few fires were started by gas leaks.
The county officials have encouraged residents in distress to contact 911 if necessary. in Not all situations are in grave danger. in You might be in urgent need. Sheriff Dicus stressed that all emergency communications systems are functioning properly and that crews have been responding to requests for assistance. There was always the possibility of finding more people.
“I’m worried about the people who we don’t know need help,” He stated.
According to Mr. Dicus, the cause of death was not determined for all four victims. in Their homes were being determined at the time, but there wasn’t any evidence of foul play. in In three deaths there were significant medical problems.
California continues to recover from the snowstorm that ravaged it. in These weeks included in Lower elevations are often overlooked by embankments. The snow fell because of unusually cold weather in More regions create a winter wonderland in Some parts can cause havoc. in others.
The cold front will depart on Thursday, and the warm atmospheric river of the tropics will arrive. The snow can be melted by warmer temperatures, but roofs could become more strained by the extra weight.
San Bernardino California County. The latest blizzards in the area have ravaged mountain towns, which are both popular tourist destinations and retirement centers for Southern Californians. According to Mr. Dicus, it is more difficult for emergency personnel to identify who might need help in the homes because a lot of them are empty for long periods of time.
“We can’t knock on the door and then kick down the door if nobody answers,” He stated.
Still, Mr. Dicus said that 700 firefighters, 60 law enforcement officers, search-and-rescue teams and volunteers were going door to door trying to make contact with as many of the area’s roughly 40,000 residents as possible. There were 90 pieces heavy equipment used to remove snow. Over the past week, he said county roads had been plowed, allowing residents to travel to the region’s only open grocery store and other businesses, and crews were working to open up private access roads and driveways.
“We have plenty of boots on the ground,” He stated. “I do believe we have a good handle on the situation as we speak.”
Officials in the area claim they were overwhelmed by the weather and learned how heavy it would snow too late. Dan Munsey was the chief firefighter. San Bernardino County, said last week That “the weather came in much worse than has ever been anticipated in Southern California.”
Chief Munsey explained that there was no specialized equipment in the county to clear the roads. Instead, the county was using construction tractors and shovels to augment the snowplows.
Residents have voiced frustration at the slow and disorganized government response. While neighbors and volunteers offered their help clearing driveways or delivering food, some residents who are older were not able to access the aid they needed.
“The community and neighbors have been able to help some of these elders,” Daphne Salas. “Some of them don’t have that, and they’ve been left all by themselves.”
Ms. Salas is 50. inCaretaker at home in Lake Arrowhead is one of many vacation hamlets that are nestled along narrow roads leading into the mountains. She said she took it upon herself to check on her older clients, many of whom she said were veterans who didn’t have relatives living close by.
One of her clients on hospice care died, she said, and his body wasn’t moved for four days.
On Wednesday, clear skies allowed some residents to try and reestablish their normal lives, even though it was getting colder.
Philip Simmons (70), said that he had been living on Lake Arrowhead’s western shore for seven years with his wife. Like other residents who live full time, they watched the snow pile up in front of their windows and were awed at how it reached nearly to their roof.
“It felt like we were living in an igloo,” He stated.
According to Mr. Simmons, the roads are clear enough that they were able for him and his wife to go grocery shopping on Thursday morning.
“We personally are not frustrated,” He stated. “It would be nice if we had enough money to prepare adequately for everything all the time, but we don’t.”
