By Rosie Priddy
Patience, perseverance, and human kindness. When we first started building our dream cabin in this valley in 2004, we learned many lessons in surviving in the Moreno Valley. We had our ideas of what it was like living in these mountains, but until you experience the harsh winters and the excessive wear and tear on people, vehicles, and equipment, you will never fully understand how hard it is for the working men and women of this community.
The most important thing we learned is helping our neighbors, no matter what the cost. Our resources are limited and we have learned to pull together to help one another. This was so evident during the fire last year. During the past months, the snows and especially the winds have critically paralyzed a lot of our community. There are still people stranded in their homes. We are so blessed to have many wonderful men and women who put their life on the line to help those who are stuck and stranded, trying to dig out a road in a sea of white, but still our resources are limited. These wonderful public servants work from 4:00 AM until after dark. They come home with their equipment beat up, damaged, and broken down. They too, are broken down, exhausted, and are vulnerable in getting sick.
Sometimes it is nearly impossible to make a way through the snow, especially when the winds blow the snow filling up the cavity they just opened. As a homeowner who had their home on VRBO for 7 years, I know how frustrating it is to live far away and have your renters get stuck, stranded, or unable to reach your home and wait on someone to help them or having to reimburse them because they were not able to get to your house. We truly didn’t understand how treacherous it can be until we got in the business of snow blowing and when we began living here full time, 9 years ago.
This is mountain living, and the snow and winds have been epic this year. Homeowners who are renting out their homes, please check the weather and road conditions when guests will be arriving. Make sure they understand they need a 4 wheel drive vehicle to drive in the winter. Give them a heads up if storms are coming, especially considering their safety and the possibility that they may not be able to reach their destination. Give them options for accommodations, but safety first as well as consideration of those clearing the roads. Roads may be closed such as with our last storms. Also, please be patient, there are so many that they serve and there are times when the plowers need to wait until the storm is over or the wind dies down. More progress is made that way. Please give them your ultimate respect and support.
It’s not about money, it’s about people! Thanks to all these people who are first responders, plowers, and those who have helped tremendously through these storms who work tirelessly in serving this Moreno Valley, many times, without pay or a thank you! You are our heroes! Praying for sunshine, calm winds, and better days ahead!
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