4 feet of snow is supposed to fall in the Sierras the next two or so days

So, hopefully, everyone checked the weather before they set out backpacking or have skis (cross country) or the split apart snowboards or Snow shoes because without at least one of these things they likely aren't going anywhere until Sunday or Monday so hopefully they have somewhere to stay warm. 

Because a Tent is going to collapse under the weight of this much snow this fast (also because early snow like this is usually wet snow which is much heavier than drier snow like you have in powder snow. Wet snow is very heavy which is always a problem for tents not collapsing (unless you take a big tarp and slope it above your tent and hang it between two trees above your tent. but it would have to have a pretty steep slope to keep most of the snow off your tent.

Then there is digging a snow cave with your hands with gloves on preferably which you can usually heat to around 50 degrees Fahrenheit with your breath and a candle. You can put your hand above the candle to warm your hands too inside of that cave. However, make sure you make some kind of air hole so you have enough fresh air to breathe.

Note: However when my college buddies and I dug a snow cave to survive a blizzard white out at night with our snow shoes we didn't know to make an Air hole when we were all between about 20 and 22 years old then going to college. We survived the night without the air hole by the way. 

2nd note: Don't heat your Snow cave above 50 degrees air temperature with a candle or candles or else you will be in a puddle of water in your sleeping bags.