The Perils Of Being Snowed In

 12 have died since massive snowstorms cut off California mountain towns

Michelle Hake’s sister had been snowed in for days, alone in her Big Bear home. She “needed medical attention in the midst of the storm, and we could not get that to her,” Hake said. Her family called for an emergency wellness check Monday. “We were too late,” she said.

At least two other people in San Bernardino’s mountain communities had been found dead through official welfare checks since Feb. 23, when the historic snowstorms started. One was found dead in Big Bear and the other in Valley of Enchantment, a neighborhood in Crestline.

The agency has  responded to nine more deaths since the storms, — a total of 12.

Mountain residents who spoke to The Times, some of whom found neighbors or friends dead inside their homes, said they had no doubt the massive storms and treacherous aftermath — the blocked roads, the lack of heat, cellphone service and food — probably contributed, if not caused, the casualties.

Laura Johnson told council members during public comments that a friend who lived in the area had died during the storms because their home could not be accessed by a dialysis provider.

Another person passed when the person delivering medication was refused entry to the roads as they were not a resident.

“They would not allow the driver to come up and pick up my friend who needed dialysis three days out of the week,” Johnson said. “And he passed.”

Residents were without power for days, roofs and decks collapsed, gas leaks spurred storm-related fires, and entire neighborhoods struggled to get supplies of food and gas.

Hake and her family were without power in their Crestline home for at least five days.

There have been explosions/fires due to  vents being covered. Rumor has it people have also died of carbon monoxide.  

SoCal Gas advises residents to make sure that “gas appliance intake and exhaust vents are clear of obstructions” if snow is accumulating on their rooftops.

San Bernardino County Fire Battalion Chief Mike McClintock said the department is following SoCal Gas’s guidance and stated that residents can remove snow from meters if they know where they are and it is safe to do so.

McClintock said it was not clear if gas leaks were the cause of seven fires in Lake Arrowhead over the past week.

After four fires early in the week, three more house fires occurred. McClintock said, adding that they did not appear to be explosions like the other blazes.

But authorities believe all the fires were storm-related, McClintock said, and are exploring the possibility that gas leaks played a role. The agency is also aware of gas odor reports.

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