The peaceful winter look of Jerusalem wrapped in snow and fog does not reveal the damage wreaked by the snow in the past. Roofs collapsed under the weight of the snow. The water from the melted snow that flooded houses, caused heavy damage to buildings and property. Families were obliged to leave their homes until they were able to repair the damage from the snow. Jerusalem residents, many of whom lived in poverty, could not cover the costs of the repairs. In their predicament, they turned to various organizations requesting to receive help in covering the costs of repairing the damage.
In a letter addressed to the Zionist Commission in 1920, a resident of Jerusalem relates how her livelihood was affected by the snowstorm: "During the terrible storm, my houses in the Nahalat Shiva quarter collapsed…as long as the houses were good, I used to collect rent…" The writer tells about the predicament in which she found herself since she could no longer collect rent: "Now I have nothing to eat.", moreover, "An orphaned girl lives in my house, and also my brother, his wife and his son, depend on me". She points out that "I never asked any for assistance"; however, the shame of hunger is stronger than the shame of asking for charity, and she asks the Zionist Commission to assist her in covering the costs of the repair.