State Of Emergency Declared Due To San Bernardino County Mountain Snow

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday night for San Bernardino County due to heavy snow and damage in mountain communities, and officials are again reminding visitors to avoid the region as officials work to dig out locals and save lives.

Food, water, power, medicine and road access are in scarce supply in San Bernardino County's higher elevations, and a concerted effort is underway to bring help, according to the governor.

Cal OES is coordinating with local officials to open two shelters for residents and is coordinating with law enforcement to escort power companies, food and water deliveries and service providers for vulnerable populations, according to the governor.

San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chair Dawn Rowe said during a press conference this week, "We know we have stranded residents. We know roofs are starting to collapse [from the snow]."

Locally, a hotline has been established for residents whose lives are in peril. In addition to 911, residents can call 909-387-3911.

According to Rowe, the first priority is saving snowed-in residents but it could take more than a week to clear mountain roads, despite the fair weather ahead.

Caltrans said it is working "around the clock" to make roads passable.

"Just to be clear, first and foremost we continue to work diligently to create access routes for our local residents and work towards providing escorts once again," Caltrans tweeted Thursday morning.

As of Wednesday, Caltrans crews removed 7,276,231 cubic yards of snow, the state agency reported.

Among mountain road closures in effect Thursday morning were Highways 330, 38, 18 and 189. Chains are required across all mountain roads, including in Riverside County.

“What we need are plows,” stranded Crestline resident Nathan Hazard told KTLA. “At this point, we need more than plows because it’s up to 5 feet of packed snow that’s filling our roads. There are many people who don’t have food."

Complicating the task at hand are visitors who want to experience the winter snow.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said this week that his agency has conducted multiple search and rescue operations involving off-roaders and skiers.

"We're having to go out and rescue them," Dicus said.

"We aren't joking about this snowfall. Please stay off mountain roads, if able," Caltrans District 8 tweeted this week.

In addition to San Bernardino County, Newsom's state of emergency covers the counties of Amador, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Sonoma and Tulare, which were all impacted by severe winter weather.