Blizzard update

Ever since the blizzard our region has been in national news pretty much every day.  They are now calling it "white earthquake" it has affected peoples lives so much.

Snow is still deep inland although most main roads are open.  Power is back to most folks as well but other hardships remain.  Firewood is in short supply for many and food is also tough to get for some.  The other day they found a lady (3 kids) who was burning her furniture so they could keep warm.

The government is trying to get help to folks but there is only so much they can do about all the livestock that's in trouble.  They fear up to 100,000 head could die before spring.

Hospital

We took Pastor Hector and Berta to Coyhaique yesterday to check into the hospital.  She has had a tumor for over a year and today was to be the day she was to be operated on.  We drove an hour to get there, went to the office, and they told her the surgery was canceled.  Seems they are out of supplies.  She has to try again the 29th.

Blizzard

They are saying this was the heaviest snow in over 30 years.  In 28 hours (starting Friday night) up to 60 inches of snow fell in the region.
Here in Aysen we just got a few inches and that melted within 2 days.  The next town east is Coyhaique, the GPS says it's 28 miles from here, the odometer says 40 miles and the watch says 1 hour.  They still had some 20-30 inches on the ground by the time we got there yesterday.  Further east a few miles they got up to 60 inches. 
As you can imagine, the roads are a mess, some roofs have collapsed and the airport has been closed since the storm.  I'll enclose some photos (I didn't take all of them) and a website with lots more:

http://www.fotos.emol.com/index.asp?G_ID=15101#

http://www.fotos.emol.com/index.asp?G_ID=15090

 During the storm over 100 people had to be rescued on the highway.  The snow just got too deep for the vehicles and fallen trees blocked the road in may places.

There are reports of a number of buildings and roofs collapsed or damaged.  A new school gym and new store downtown are included. 

On the way to Coyhaique we were surprised at the amount of trees down.  Apparently the weight of the snow was so great that they simply fell over many times tearing out the roots and all.  The road was down to one lane numerous times and it looks like more blockage is on the way as there are lots of trees just hanging over the road.

Fortunately we have a very good STL vehicle and we have good studded snow tires so we didn't have any problems driving yesterday.  We did get held up for about an hour at the pass (along with lots of other folks) when some truck driver decided he could make it without chains.  He couldn't.

We made it back safe and sound last night, it looks like the conditions should be even better when we go again tomorrow.

Snow day

We don't get all that much snow here in town.  We're real near the coast and that seems to keep the snow away.  A few miles inland it's another story.  So, when we get a snow day here in town it's worthy of a few pictures...