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On the fourth day of the city’s response to the historic snowfall, hundreds of side streets and thousands of residents were still awaiting resources to come dig them out — or have resorted to digging themselves out.
The SRTA regional bus again cancelled all service on Thursday, schools will remain closed until Monday, garbage collection has been halted until next week, the city-wide parking ban continues without an end date, and a small army of city, state and privately owned equipment continues its efforts. Power has been restored to all but five New Bedford homes as of Thursday, though more than 48,000 around the state still are in the dark.
The Mitchell administration had said in official statements that it was awaiting a “pending” request for aid sent to the National Guard. The Light obtained information on Thursday that all of the city’s requests for aid had been filled, not necessarily from the National Guard.
All emergency resource requests from the state, including the National Guard, are coordinated by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). A statement from that agency said that the city should not have expected assistance from one agency over others.
“Requests for state assistance are submitted through the State Emergency Operations Center. Municipalities submit requests for specific resources based on operational needs, rather than requesting assistance from a particular agency,” said a public information officer for MEMA.
That official clarified that the front-end loaders requested by New Bedford were provided, just not by the National Guard: “Assets were sourced through available resource channels and were not provided by the Massachusetts National Guard.”
Gov. Maura Healey spoke at a Fall River press conference on Thursday, saying that all resource requests were met, and that she will surge more resources to the South Coast and Cape region.
“This was really, really tough… [and] we won’t take our foot off the gas at all,” Healey said. She said that New Bedford had received 40 pieces of state equipment by Thursday and that 10 more were on their way.
“We’ve been able to meet all requests throughout the state,” Healey said. She added, “We’re not out of this yet.”
The Mitchell administration, asked about the confusion over how to obtain state resources, did not provide a comment in time for publication on Thursday.
A survey by The Light asked residents to report whether their streets had been plowed, and by Wednesday almost 1,500 residents reported more than 200 side streets were still awaiting snow removal. Residents can update the progress with The Light’s new survey for Thursday progress.
A press release from the City of New Bedford on Wednesday listed all the equipment in the city’s snow-removal fleet, including equipment and trucks provided by the state. That fleet includes:
- 90 city-operated plow trucks
- 10 pieces of city-operated heavy equipment
- 20 pieces of heavy equipment operated by state contractors
- 10 pieces of privately operated heavy equipment
- 12 private-operated plow trucks
- 3 pieces of city-operated light-heavy equipment
- 4 pieces of light-heavy equipment operated by state contractors
- 25 hauling trucks operated by state contractors
On Thursday, that workforce had cleared most main thoroughfares. Snow has been removed to the former Aerovox site in the North End, the former Cannon Street power station near downtown, and to beach parking lots. But residents stuck on the city’s side streets have been forced to remove their own snow to get to work or otherwise leave their homes.
On Thursday morning, a man on North Front Street was breaking the ice sheet that covered the road with a hammer. Only a few blocks away, a large branch suspended on electrical wires has remained in place since the storm hit on Monday.
By the afternoon, teams of residents in the North End had started to shovel their own streets. Their frustration with the city’s response was palpable, as many could be overheard voicing their complaints. Some said they had called city offices to request services, but had not gotten through.
In the city’s West End, residents complained that the uncleared streets were affecting their jobs. “I was at work 55 hours because no coworkers could get out because the side streets were not plowed,” said Desire Wilson, a behavioral home worker.
“It’s so hard to get through” to the city for assistance, Wilson continued. “The city lists a number to call, but no one is picking up… It’s pretty crazy.”
In The Light’s survey to residents on Thursday, some respondents begged for assistance.
“I appreciate all the City’s work. I am so sure you’re exhausted,” said Lynn Correia. “However I’m on day four and don’t even have a pass through. Help me get to work please!!!”
Others catalogued the ways they’ve asked for help: “Myself and my neighbors have called DPI, emailed city council members etc. to ask for help and still heard nothing back!!” said Shanna York.
Many residents are still concerned of what could happen in an emergency, like Lauren Aubertine, who said: “Us neighbors made a path [but] it’s not wide enough for emergency vehicles.”
Kevin G. Andrade, Anastasia Lennon, and Brooke Kushwaha contributed reporting.
Email Colin Hogan at chogan@newbedfordlight.org.
One storm, one day big event but it’s been over for days! Let’s go NB! Get your people plowed out! I’ll bet you a dollar to a donut Hawthorne st and all up to Buttonwood park is done! Let’s get cracking!!
By Hawthorn St you mean…the main way ambulances get to St Lukes?
If they are on the path to the hospital, which they are, they need to be cleared first. Next time you move, think about that!
I am sure down the road there will be plenty of time for comments on how the clean up was completed, butI have lived in a house on a major street for 70 years and I have been through many snowstorms, but this storm was different, and while the city is struggling to get the clean up finished, it is very important that we thank all the men and women that out there working so hard, this New Bedford resident is very grateful, thanks to everyone.
Highlighting the problem of unresponsive city council members. This isn’t limited to just the blizzard. Many city council members ignore emails from constituents. Maybe the NBL can do a story about that.
Been there done that, the only one that responds is Ian. Just like the school committee, they are just there to push raises for admin that does favors for their kids and immigrant relatives.