January 18, 2012
By: Carrie Van Brunt-Wiley
One family in Alaska may have an unusual home insurance claim after literally digging out their home after snow burst through their home's doors and windows and piled up inside.
Valdez, Alaska - known for its snowy winters - has received more than 300 inches of snow this year. Residents Andy and Cynthia Shidner said that last week, large amounts of snow came off of their neighbor's home and blew open three doors to the home and even came through a bedroom window.
"My husband was actually in bed, with snow on him, on the bed, and he was trapped because our door opens in, and there was about a foot-and-a-half of snow covering the door," Cynthia Shidner said.
Local authorities alerted a team of workers from the U.S. Coast Guard to help the family dig out. Crews were also on hand to help homeowners deal with other snow-related issues such as blocked vents.
The heavy snowfall totals so far this year are causing problems even though residents are used to high totals. In Weather.com's rankings of the snowiest places in the country, Valdez finished first. During just one storm in December 2009, the town received 68 inches of snow.
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