Red Cross delivers comfort kits to Madera County residents amid winter storms

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Red Cross spent Friday delivering supplies to snowed-in people around Bass Lake and North Fork communities.

Some residents in Bass Lake have remained without power for several days.

People use generators to keep large appliances like refrigerators powered, and if they have them, they use wood stoves to keep their homes warm.

The homes without aren't much warmer than the freezing outside temperature. Longtime residents say they've never experienced this before.

"We've had the phone here for about 65 years or 7 years, but we've lived up here full time, probably 30," said Wanda Whitson, Bass Lake resident. "We've had snow, but very tiny compared to what we have now."

Whitson said they were without power for four days before her grandkids could find her a generator, but they are just using it for their refrigerator.

RELATED: North Fork residents dig out from several feet of snow

While they're okay on food and water for now, Whitson is concerned about more snow's potential.

"Well, I'm not real happy and excited about it because we have more than we can contend with now," said Whitson.

Red Cross knocked on the doors of homes like Whitson to drop off comfort kits before more snow falls.

"If they can't get out, then at least if they see us, we can at least get them supplies," said Katrina Poitras, Red Cross.

Those kits are being delivered in partnership with PG&E and include blankets, water, food, and something Poitras said is essential, phone chargers.

"So, they can pop their phones right on them and at least be able to make connections with outside family," said Poitras. "So it's really important for communication."

Poitras said they had 300 kits ready to deliver Friday and more on order to deliver in Mariposa County Saturday. They plan to have 700 kits available in total.