On the California Sierra Nevada snow situation, saw a note from a major snow removal contractor today pleading with second homeowners to not come, given they can no longer blow snow high enough to clear 30-40-foot snowbanks along driveways and guarantee home access.
This is exactly the kind of "long emergency" with which humans cope poorly, as opposed to a hurricane, where bad things happen, and then the storm moves on. Risk is piling on risk in mountain communities, and at this point many should be cordoned off or evacuated. #xp
The situation is very dangerous and arguably unprecedented, with little required to tip it into an outright disaster, given that tens of thousands of people treat such communities as weekend playgrounds, and wander blithely from the coast, unaware of the risk exponentials. #xp
And why hasn't that happened? In part it is because resort operators in the Sierras closed during pandemic, and they faced a class action suit that they only just settled expensively (e.g., skipasssettlement.com). Loathe to have that happen again, the risks are exacerbated. #xp
Addendum: A few people have asked, & the key risks take various forms:
- Supply chain disruption
- Cyclic loading
- Total loading
Wrt the latter two points, dense Sierra snow can be 20+ pounds per cubic foot. With 20+ feet of snow on many roofs, you do the collapse math. #xp
- Supply chain disruption
- Cyclic loading
- Total loading
Wrt the latter two points, dense Sierra snow can be 20+ pounds per cubic foot. With 20+ feet of snow on many roofs, you do the collapse math. #xp
As an aside, home insurance prices have soared in recent years in the Sierras, but largely on the back of wildfire risk. Insurers will take a hit here, so watch future premiums when policies are adjusted for mispriced, fat-tailed, winter events like this one. #xp
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