The small Alaska fishing town of Cordova is used to dealing with excessive snow - but not like this. Residents have turned to the state to help them dig out of massive snow levels that have collapsed roofs, triggered avalanches and even covered doors, trapping some people in their homes.
"There's nowhere to go with the snow because it's piled up so high," said Wendy Rainney, who owns the Orca Adventure Lodge.
A storage building for the lodge - which offers fishing trips, hiking, kayaking and glacier tours - partially collapsed under the weight of the snow, she said.
"This is more quantity than can be handled."
The Alaska National Guard reported almost 5.5m of snow has fallen on Cordova in the past weeks, although the National Weather Service did not immediately have a measurement.
Officials said at least three buildings had collapsed or partially collapsed and six homes were deemed severely stressed by heavy wet snow.
The city has set up a shelter at a local recreation centre, but said people leaving homes in avalanche-risky areas have been staying with other residents.
Cordova spokesman Allen Marquette said the town also was ready to set up a pet shelter if necessary.
Responders said that rain fell overnight, making for a slippery, treacherous mess in the Prince William Sound community of 2000 year-round residents.
The region has been pummeled by snow, but Cordova is of particular concern because there is no road access to the town - it can only be reached by boat and plane passage.
There have been no reported injuries, but bad weather has prevented the Guard from flying to the town, 225km southeast of Anchorage.
More than 70 Guard members traveled to Cordova on a state ferry, arriving at 4:30 pm. About 50 of them will help clear roofs, roads, boats - whatever is the greatest need. The rest will provide other assistance.
Also helping out in Cordova are three state emergency workers who were already in town to help the city with emergency response planning.
Major General Thomas Katkus, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, said Guard members would be on hand for up to two weeks.
"This is an ongoing operation," he told reporters.
An avalanche brought snow and debris down on a section of the Copper River Highway, the 20km link from the town to the local airport. State transportation officials said a secondary road was opened to two-lane traffic while crews cleared the highway.
The state also is working on bringing in more heavy equipment to Cordova, which issued a disaster proclamation after three weeks of relentless snow overwhelmed local crews working around the clock and filled snow dump sites.
"We had no alternative but to declare an emergency," Cordova Mayor Jim Kallander said. "It became a life-safety issue."
Another storm that started during the weekend also brought rain, which soaked into the snow, weighing it down.
Classes will begin later than usual this week, but officials said students should go only if parents were comfortable with them venturing out.
Some roads have been cleared, but officials say residents also are being creative, traveling on foot and by skis and snowshoes.
The National Weather Service said the snow depth at the airport measured 1.5m before the rain fell, weighing the level down to 1.2m.
The weather is meant to clear early this week before another system moves, bringing more snow and rain, as well as winds as strong as 70kmh.
This break in the weather is very critical and very fortunate," meteorologist Don Moore said.
