TRUCKEE, Calif. — The great dig-out is underway in Truckee after a blizzard dropped at least two feet of new snow overnight — adding to the already major snowfall seen Friday.
"It’s definitely a rare occurrence for sure," said one Truckee resident. "This storm is really different than anything we’ve had all winter."
Downtown Truckee businesses are working hard to open. Billy Griffin had to dig himself out from three feet of snow in the Tahoe Donner neighborhood to make it to his local business.
"The way we look at it we are an essential business we serve food to the community," said Billy Griffin, owner of New Moon Natural Foods.
The business has been feeding its community for 27 years.
"We’ll beef up our orders we did before the storm to make sure we had enough supplies for people who wanted to bulk up their pantries to ride out the storm," said Griffin.
Or if you’re Mark Larson, snow blowing out your lot for customers.
"It will be good for business in the sense that storms like this will change the summer, so in the long game we see it as good for business. It will be bad for business for the week, people will be dealing with damages to their homes and vehicles," said Larson.
While downtown Truckee roads were mostly clear of people, the neighborhoods were buried.
Scenes from Tahoe Donner show snow removal crews cutting deep into 3 maybe 4 feet of snow. Everyone doing part with removal even this pup helping remove snow by eating it.
"Couldn’t go home to South Lake last night so that’s why I stayed here in Truckee," said Miltaiye Vasquez.
Vasquez is just trying to get to work at the Ritz Carlton Spa. With many ski resorts closed, he knows he will be booked solid.
"I love the income for sure, massage is based off the tourism industry," he said.
Most ski resorts in the region are closed but Northstar opened some ski runs Saturday. Heavenly in Tahoe also with a delayed start put out this important safety message:
"When you are skiing in powder this deep, we want you to ski with a friend and have a line of site to your friend at all times, we want you to stay clear of those tree wells because those are really deep," said Cole Zimmerman with Heavenly.
Powder fever may have to wait.
"The snow is going to be here in a couple days while the conditions might be deep and fun today the snow is still going to be here on Monday and Tuesday," said Zimmerman.
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