Couple, Dog Rescued After Being Trapped Under Snow for Almost Two Months in California

Emergency personnel, on February 1, have rescued a couple and their pet dog who were trapped in their cabin in California-due to heavy snowfall for almost two months-since December 6, 2021. Due to difficult weather conditions, the ordeal of the trapped trio was prolonged until help finally arrived.

Rescue Operations Came after Two Months

A rescue helicopter arrived in their cabin-which was covered with thick snow and fallen trees. The weather circumstances made it impossible for them to get out. The area of the cabin is remote, and with roads becoming impassable, the California Highway Patrol Operations (CHP) deployed its helicopter.

Despite the strong winds during the rescue, the helicopter was able to land safely. According to California's Sierra County Sheriff's Office, the couple and the dog were rescued from Downieville, California-a two-hour drive from San Francisco.

The trapped couple sought help from the authorities as they were unable to escape due to significant snowfall and fallen trees above and around their cabin. In addition, the Sierra County Sheriff's Office was informed that the couple was trapped due to a winter storm back in early December 2021.

Press Release from the Sierra County Sheriff's Office

The details surrounding the incident and rescue operations came from a news release several days after the rescue. Prior to the rescue, local authorities said the two people trapped in the cabin are already facing a lack of food supply, as per CNN.

According to the press release from the Sierra County Sheriff's Office, it was around 10:30 a.m. on February 1 when their office received a phone call from a couple acting as caretakers of property in northwestern Sierra County, California.

The Sierra County Sheriff's Office stated the rescue was not swift due to the remote location and obstructed roads caused by the winter weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and strong winds.

The said weather conditions prompted the CHP to send an H20 rescue helicopter to the cabin at about 11:20 a.m. on February 1. The helicopter picked up the couple and their dog and transferred them to a landing zone south of Downieville. They were taken to the sheriff's office until the couple's friends picked them up.

Winter Storm in California in December 2021

In December 2021, California experienced a series of winter storms with blizzard conditions in the form of heavy snowfall, torrential rain, and cold temperatures, as per the Los Angeles Times. The winter storm caused roads to be impassable, electricity to be knocked out, and communications to be disrupted.

The said disruption has likely hampered the chance of the trapped couple in early December to relay their situation immediately to local authorities. Related winter weather conditions also occurred in other parts of the US, especially the Northeast during this period.

The US is currently in its winter season which spans between December and March every year. During this season, winter storms are prevalent and usually bring heavy snowfall, heavy rain, and strong winds. Power outages, halted road traffic movement, and disrupted flights are the common impact of these storms.