“Guys, we’re here for you,” said Sheriff Shannon Dickus. “We’re going to dig you up, we’re coming.”
However, Sheriff DeCues stressed that networks of state highways, side roads and driveways are like the arteries, veins and capillaries of a large body, and it will take time to get rid of them. Teams have made progress in creating narrow lanes for vehicles on several roads, but they have not been able to create more space for cars to park or pass. In many cases, snow walls still need to be excavated to create paths over each property for people and vehicles to egress.
Officials said it will be at least another week before anyone beyond residents and emergency teams is allowed access to the mountain communities. They urged residents to extend their food stores if they can, as it is unclear when grocery stores will be able to operate normally.
When Matt Sack arrived last week at Jensen’s Finest Foods, a family-run supermarket in Blue Jay, not far from Lake Arrowhead, he learned snow was in the forecast. The store was stocked with bread, milk, eggs, firewood and other staples – and locals began to clear them out. The store was supplying people until earlier this week, when the storm’s “last ditch effort” piled on another 18 inches of snow.
During previous storms, enough snow could be removed to keep the roof of a decades-old building from sagging. But Mr. When Zack climbed a ladder this time, he encountered a pile about five feet high. There is not enough time and not enough people to adequately lighten the load.
He noticed that the roof was sagging. A building inspector ordered the site closed, and Mr. Zack doesn’t know. Another grocer’s rooftop, Goodwin and Sons, is the only one in nearby Crestline. Completely collapsed. Mr.
“We are here to serve the community,” said the 54-year-old Mr. Jack said. “It’s heartbreaking.”
Jill Cowan reported from Los Angeles and Vic Jolly from San Bernardino, California. Kirsten Noyes Research contributed.
