OLYMPIA, Wash. - For 50 years, the maple tree grew in front of Frank Herman's Olympia home.
"When I moved in here, this tree was supported by two sticks and bungee cords supporting it,” he said.
Now his roof is supporting it.
With no power and now this, Herman has one word to describe this week: "Miserable."
The snow is getting wetter and heavier and it's causing damage. Carports meant to provide shelter are no longer safe.
Power lines, loaded down with ice, keep coming down - sometimes even after they've been repaired.
Tumwater firefighters, who usually respond to eight calls a day, had more than 100 on Thursday alone.
"A lot of medical calls, people lose power, they don't have oxygen, they get worried, they call us," said Lt. Ken Goldsby.
Others not willing to wait for help are taking clean-up matters into their own hands.
But there is hope - the snow is slowly melting. Public works crews are clearing as many drains as they can get to.
While the weather didn't really cooperate, many chose to dig out today even though they may be cold, wet and in the dark for a few more days.
"It's an adventure… we call it an adventure… I think you gotta go with it. There's nothing you can do about it,” said one woman.
Despite the hundreds of downed trees and power lines, Thurston County has had no reports of serious injuries.
The biggest concerns are all the rain causing more cave-ins, and the possibility of winds knocking down more trees still loaded down with ice.
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