Southern California motorists found themselves stranded in the San Bernardino Mountains when a winter storm dumped heavy snow in the area about 50 miles from Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Firefighters from San Bernardino County rescued 136 people from State Highway 138 around the neighborhoods of Crestline and Mount Baldy,
reported USA Today. First Baptist Church in Crestline was used as a shelter as American Red Cross volunteers aided motorists who were rescued.
"An incident command post was established, and county fire crews from the High Desert, Crest Forest and Lake Arrowhead began to count the stranded and check for injuries," San Bernardino officials said in a
statement. "No serious collisions or medical emergencies were initially reported.
"Some motorists were either able to eventually drive away as plows cleared snow on the periphery of the incident. Still others abandoned their vehicles and walked to shelter or were able to reach their homes. County Fire Snow-Cat apparatus, similar to the machines often seen grooming ski trails, were used to navigate the snowy roads. Staffed with firefighter/paramedics, these crews began to retrieve the stranded," said the statement.
The Los Angeles Times reported that about 300 cars were stuck on Highways 330 and 18 in Big Bear at one time as snow brought traffic to a standstill. California Highway Patrol Officer Marcelo Llerena told the Times that 150 and 200 cars were towed off the road by authorities and it will be the owners' responsibility to pick them up.
Along with the snow, wind plagued rescue and recovery efforts as well. Wind advisories were issued in the area as gusts reached up to 70 mph in mountain passes from Ventura to Orange and Riverside counties, said the Times.
Officials reported wind gusting up to 57 miles per hour in Fremont Canyon in Orange County while wind kicked up near hurricane strength at 70 mph in Malibu Hills.
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District told KXTV that more than 8,000 homes in the Sacramento area lost power Tuesday afternoon because of strong wind gust in the region. Some 2,000 customers lost power in downtown Sacramento and Land Park as well.