Residents and travelers stuck in snow-covered San Bernardino Mountains fear dwindling supplies
The San Bernardino Mountains were still blanketed by several feet of snow Monday, and with road closures still in effect and more snowfall on the way, residents and travelers were growing concerned about when they would be able to leave their homes and rentals and how long their supplies would last.
Vira Krasiuk and her family had come to Lake Arrowhead from Aliso Viejo on Friday for a short trip, only planning to stay until Saturday.
The family of three adults and three children remained trapped at a rental home and were running low on supplies and unable to make the drive to the nearest grocery store. On Monday, two family members walked about two hours to the nearest gas station to get water, dry noodles and other necessities.
Originally from Ukraine, Krasiuk said she had never experienced a winter storm like this, even back home.
“We called the fire department and asked about when we could leave, and they said all roads are closed,” Krasiuk said. “We cannot get out.”
Hard road closures remained Monday with no access to anyone other than emergency services while Caltrans staff continued working to clear the snow on highways 18, 138, 189, 173, 330 and 38, according to Caltrans spokesperson Carolina Rojas.
“Staff continues to work around the clock making great progress considering the circumstances that we were faced with,” Rojas said.
Many longtime residents prepared and stocked up ahead of the storm but did not anticipate the road closures continuing through Monday.
Caltrans officials said trucks hauling groceries and other supplies made the trip up Highway 18 over the weekend to Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake and were coordinating additional efforts with local agencies for fuel, groceries, medical and other essential needs in all mountain communities, but some residents said their stores were still seeing supplies dwindle.
Robin Unwin-Bassett, who has lived in Twin Peaks for three years, said her family made a run to the store last week, stocking up on all the essentials. With two teens and an infant, she said she told her kids to run wild and grab any snacks they wanted, knowing they would be stuck indoors for days to come.
Unwin-Bassett's one concern was her supply of milk, which she was conserving for her 1-year-old son.
She said the road outside her home Monday was still covered in several feet of snow.
A snow plow had come through the neighborhood earlier to clear the roads, but with so much snow continuing to fall, the efforts were in vain.
“I felt bad for the guy because there's just nowhere to even push it all,” Unwin-Bassett said. “My husband was out there for hours shoveling, a neighbor with his own plowing tools was trying to clear the road, but it just keeps falling. And we're expecting at least two to three more days of snow.”
Arthur Lev, who has lived in Crestline for the past two years, said he was running low on supplies for himself and his two cats.
Lev said he is unable to get to his local store because of the road closures, and making the walk even out to his driveway was too strenuous.
He estimated he had about four days of supplies left.
“The roads are covered with snow, major supermarkets are running dangerously low on supplies, gas stations are running low,” Lev said. “Our concern is how long it will take the government to provide assistance.”
Reacting to the problems in the mountains, San Bernardino County declared a local emergency Monday evening, seeking state and federal assistance to clear snow from the mountain highways and neighborhood streets “and support any other necessary work and services.”
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials said they were working with local agencies to create a warming center for those in need of additional resources, and the San Bernardino County Fire Department was using specialized snow vehicles to access patients in medical need.
A shelter was opened by the American Red Cross on Monday at Redlands East
Valley High School, 31000 E. Colton Ave., for mountain residents unable to return home and seeking safe shelter. The shelter will be staffed around the clock and resources will be available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The county said a call center was established to assist residents. It can be reached at 909-387-3911 through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For residents and travelers stuck inside their residences and worried about supplies, Unwin-Bassett implored others to be kind to their neighbors.
“Please ask for help if you need it,” she said. “We have a really great community here willing to help. So be nice, we're all getting cabin fever.”