Historic blizzard prompts US state emergency.

(RT) ⸻ California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in 13 counties due to a severe snowstorm that has trapped people in their homes and cut power to tens of thousands of residents. The National Guard has been deployed to work alongside the Office of Emergency Services, California Highway Patrol and Caltrans to assist in the emergency response in the stricken counties, which include Los Angeles, Nevada, San Bernardino and Santa Barbara. In San Bernardino county, many people have been trapped in their houses for days due to the unusually intense storm, which delivered as much as seven feet (2.13 meters) of snow in some places. The weather forced the closure of Highway 18, a major artery, with motorists allowed passage only with police and transit authority escorts. With food and water supplies running low, residents have begged Newsom for help. Officials are opening two shelters for needy or stranded residents and working on escorting power companies into the area. The governor's emergency declaration allows selected agencies to override local authority and disregard normal restrictions on spending and procurement, lest red tape hinder the time-sensitive storm response.