With the roads blocked, it became impossible to replenish his supply, but within a few days volunteers lugged sled loads of coal to his house.

“It’s incredible how everyone from the community mucks in at times of need,” Mr. Marshall said. “If we don’t do it then no one else will, so we always find a way.”

Even for longtime residents accustomed to heavy snowfalls, the severity of this week’s storms was shocking. The snow started on Monday but conditions did not really deteriorate until Wednesday, when strong winds began stacking the fluffy powder flakes into huge snowdrifts, blocking the roads.

“The wind came with the snow this time. We didn’t expect such a wide-range impact,” said Ian Taylor-Lynch, another resident of Nenthead who spent most of Monday digging out older neighbors from their homes.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Sue Gilbertson, a 20-year resident of Garrigill, another small village in the area. On Sunday all five roads in and out of the area had been closed off and many residents lost electricity for more than 13 hours.