California Governor declares state of emergency in 13 counties including Los Angeles
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in several counties amid a winter storm that brought snow to Los Angeles.
Newsom deployed the National Guard on Wednesday to help residents, especially in San Bernardino County, where some have been trapped in their homes for days.
The Sierra Nevada mountain ranges of northern and southern California were hit by several feet of snow on Wednesday and remain under winter storm watch until Thursday.
Wind, freeze and winter storm warnings were issued by the National Weather Service throughout the sunny state as temperatures plunged below freezing to 26 degrees Fahrenheit in certain areas.
According to the governor’s office, the National Guard is working with local law enforcement to open shelters for residents and deliver food and water to those trapped.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in several counties amid a winter storm that brought snow to Los Angeles. Pictured: A palm tree in LA as snow fell on Wednesday
Newsom deployed the National Guard on Wednesday to help residents, especially in San Bernardino County, where some have been trapped in their homes for days. Pictured: A church buried in snow in the San Bernardino Mountains
The counties named in the emergency declaration are Amador, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Sonoma and Tulare.
Some areas not included in the statement were not ordered to evacuate, including residents of Olympic Valley, east of Sacramento.
An avalanche hit an apartment building nearby around 7 p.m. on Tuesday Sierra sun. No injuries were reported.
Several residents of the southern mountain ranges pleaded with the governor for help clearing the roads as food and water supplies are running out.
“Roofs are collapsing everywhere, people need help and rescue. All stores are running out of food and water. The gas stations are barely running out of gas,” said Lake Arrowhead resident Miyah Nelson KTLA.
“We need to clear our roads so people can leave their homes. They’re all trapped.’
Gas stations were covered in snow in the San Bernardino mountains on Wednesday. Pictured: A gas station in Running Springs
A man was walking through the snow in the San Bernardino Mountains Monday as several people were trapped in their homes
Wind, freeze and winter storm warnings were issued by the National Weather Service throughout the sunny state as temperatures dipped below freezing to 26 degrees Fahrenheit in certain areas
Several people across the state appeared to be trapped by the storm, including workers at the Sugar Bowl Resort in Norden, California – east of Sacramento
Snow fell at low elevations in the southern end of the state on Wednesday, making an unusual appearance in areas stretching from Orange County to Los Angeles.
Several Angelenos were blown away by the rare sighting and posted photos of snow hitting near the famous Hollywood sign.
The snow even reached Disneyland in Anaheim for the first time since 1882 deadline.
The storm left about 100,000 homes and businesses in the state without power on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, San Bernardino County declared a state of emergency as crews struggled to plow through blocked roads.
Jennifer Cobb and her husband, vacationing in the San Bernardino Mountains, were mired in a relentless series of storms for a week.
“We hear the phantom noises of plows, but they never come,” said Cobb, 49. “Being stuck here in this beautiful place shouldn’t be horrible, but it is.”
Several Angelenos were blown away by the rare sighting and posted photos of snow hitting near the famous Hollywood sign
A worker was seen Wednesday in Hesperia, California, plowing snow along State Route 138
In the mountain town of Crestline, some people who couldn’t drive trudged to the grocery store on foot.
But Michael Johnstone said his family’s shop was low on stock on Tuesday.
‘We have no bread at all. Milk becomes very light. We’re running out of products,” Johnstone said. Authorities escorted two full trucks to the mountain community, he said, just in time for another storm to bring more snow.
In Sacramento, about 50 bus passengers were stranded Tuesday night as heavy snow had closed highways, according to Daniel Bowers, chief of the city’s emergency management agency.
The powerful winter storm is expected to spread snow, ice and high winds to parts of the Great Plains, Midwest and Northeast by the end of the week, while the Boston area is expected to see several more inches of snow by Friday.