At least 13 people have died since a series of historic snowstorms began last month, which have left some residents trapped in their homes.Since Feb. 23, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office has responded to a total of thirteen death investigations, according to apress releasepublished on Thursday.“When reviewing these deaths, the preliminary assessment is only one of these had a direct correlation to the weather,” the release said. “The decedent died at the hospital as the result of a traffic accident during the storm.“Additionally, four people who died “were either on hospice or died in the hospital.““The eight remaining deaths are under investigation. The preliminary information we have at this time, is the circumstances observed at the scenes did not present as weather related,” the sheriff’s office wrote, noting that “many of the deceased had significant medical histories or chronic conditions.““While our preliminary findings are these seven deaths are not storm related, our expert Coroner investigators will continue their work to make a final determination. This process is important, and it will take time,” according to the sheriff’s office. “As we complete the investigations the findings will be updated - first to the families and then to the public.“Snowfall in the San Bernardino Mountain area.Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via GettyAccording to the sheriff’s office, the one confirmed weather-related death was a 39-year-old woman involved in a fatal hit-and-run on Feb. 26, reported The New York Times.County Sheriff and Coroner Shannon Dicus told the newspaper that at leastfour people have been found dead in their homesin Big Bear, and that three of those individuals had a history of medical issues.“I’m worried about the people who we don’t know need help,” he told the outlet.RELATED VIDEO: Woman, 22, Dies After Getting Trapped in Her Car for 18 Hours During Blizzard: ‘She Was Scared’California has facedback-to-back storms that brought an unusual amount of snowfall to a number of regions, resulting in power outages and road closures, according toCNN.In the San Bernardino Mountain area, where some places were hit with over 100 inches of snow, many residents have spent two weeks trapped in their homes, reportedThe Los Angeles Times.Per theWall Street Journal, the state is nearing afour-decade record for snowpack.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I don’t think people know how dire it is right now,” Michelle Hake, whose sister was snowed in for days before she was found dead, toldThe Los Angeles Times.Rodriguez, who confirmed the death to the newspaper, said a cause had yet to be determined, but Hake said she believed her sister would still be alive if she had been able to get the care she needed.There has also been concern that more bodies will be found in the coming days, with another storm expected to hit the area next week. Experts also fear residents could see flooding on Thursday and Friday as the snow melts.“There are many elderly people who are kind of reclusive in their homes with nothing,” Megan Vasquez, a volunteer who started a food distribution center, toldThe Los Angeles Times.Speaking with KTLA, Vasquez added, “It’s been very cold here. It’s been below freezing, so if somebody didn’t have electricity or gas to heat their home, they may have frozen to death.“Experts also fear residents could see flooding on Thursday and Friday as the snow melts and another atmospheric river arrives. “It could get really ugly,” National Weather Service meteorologist David Rowe told SFGate.“A storm arriving Thursday will bring a threat of flooding from a combination of heavy rain and snowmelt to lower elevations and foothills in California, especially below 5,000 feet,” theWeather Prediction Center saidon social media Wednesday. “And heavy, wet snow at higher elevations will lead to difficult travel and impacts from snow load.“PerCNN, residents in Monterey County have been advised to have enough essentials to last them two weeks.
At least 13 people have died since a series of historic snowstorms began last month, which have left some residents trapped in their homes.
Since Feb. 23, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office has responded to a total of thirteen death investigations, according to apress releasepublished on Thursday.“When reviewing these deaths, the preliminary assessment is only one of these had a direct correlation to the weather,” the release said. “The decedent died at the hospital as the result of a traffic accident during the storm.”
Additionally, four people who died “were either on hospice or died in the hospital.”
“The eight remaining deaths are under investigation. The preliminary information we have at this time, is the circumstances observed at the scenes did not present as weather related,” the sheriff’s office wrote, noting that “many of the deceased had significant medical histories or chronic conditions.”
“While our preliminary findings are these seven deaths are not storm related, our expert Coroner investigators will continue their work to make a final determination. This process is important, and it will take time,” according to the sheriff’s office. “As we complete the investigations the findings will be updated - first to the families and then to the public.”
Snowfall in the San Bernardino Mountain area.Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty
According to the sheriff’s office, the one confirmed weather-related death was a 39-year-old woman involved in a fatal hit-and-run on Feb. 26, reported The New York Times.
County Sheriff and Coroner Shannon Dicus told the newspaper that at leastfour people have been found dead in their homesin Big Bear, and that three of those individuals had a history of medical issues.
“I’m worried about the people who we don’t know need help,” he told the outlet.
RELATED VIDEO: Woman, 22, Dies After Getting Trapped in Her Car for 18 Hours During Blizzard: ‘She Was Scared’
California has facedback-to-back storms that brought an unusual amount of snowfall to a number of regions, resulting in power outages and road closures, according toCNN.
In the San Bernardino Mountain area, where some places were hit with over 100 inches of snow, many residents have spent two weeks trapped in their homes, reportedThe Los Angeles Times.Per theWall Street Journal, the state is nearing afour-decade record for snowpack.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“I don’t think people know how dire it is right now,” Michelle Hake, whose sister was snowed in for days before she was found dead, toldThe Los Angeles Times.
Rodriguez, who confirmed the death to the newspaper, said a cause had yet to be determined, but Hake said she believed her sister would still be alive if she had been able to get the care she needed.
There has also been concern that more bodies will be found in the coming days, with another storm expected to hit the area next week. Experts also fear residents could see flooding on Thursday and Friday as the snow melts.
“There are many elderly people who are kind of reclusive in their homes with nothing,” Megan Vasquez, a volunteer who started a food distribution center, toldThe Los Angeles Times.
Speaking with KTLA, Vasquez added, “It’s been very cold here. It’s been below freezing, so if somebody didn’t have electricity or gas to heat their home, they may have frozen to death.”
Experts also fear residents could see flooding on Thursday and Friday as the snow melts and another atmospheric river arrives. “It could get really ugly,” National Weather Service meteorologist David Rowe told SFGate.
“A storm arriving Thursday will bring a threat of flooding from a combination of heavy rain and snowmelt to lower elevations and foothills in California, especially below 5,000 feet,” theWeather Prediction Center saidon social media Wednesday. “And heavy, wet snow at higher elevations will lead to difficult travel and impacts from snow load.”
PerCNN, residents in Monterey County have been advised to have enough essentials to last them two weeks.
source: people.com
