Post-storm cleanup operations ongoing days after blizzard

Though the storm has long passed, cleanup efforts around town continue in order to bring Wareham back to normal. Wareham will remain in a State of Emergency and will have a parking ban on the streets until Monday, March 2. 

Emergency Management Director Calib LaRue was working non-stop before, during and after the storm to ensure the town had necessary support. With the National Guard and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency sending equipment to Wareham, the 30.1 inches of snow that blanketed the town is still being taken care of. 

With the frequent 911 calls and impassible roads, the National Guard had equipment to drive over large piles of snow and assist residents in a way that Wareham's vehicles couldn't.

The Massachusetts Army National Guard 1166th Transportation Company were active in town with two high water rescue vehicles and four soldiers assisting with public safety operations. The crew was staged at the Emergency Operation Center inside the Multi-Service Center at 54 Marion Road. 

"They were deployed to Wareham within four hours of that request," he said.

LaRue said that the National Guard ceased operations in Wareham at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26.

At a peak point during the storm, 117 crews were on the streets of Wareham. As a result of multi-day power outages the warming center inside the Multi-Service Center was turned into a 24-hour shelter, something it wasn't designed to do. 

LaRue said that because of the overwhelming circumstances, Emergency Management were able to operate the warming center longer. Cots were set up in a space that usually hosts Council on Aging events and cheer practices. 

"The biggest concern was keeping people safe, that's why we decided to keep the shelter open," he said. 

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency sent 10 front end loaders and two skid steers  to Wareham to help clear roads. A skid steer is a compact four-wheeled  machine with arms used for digging, lifting and pushing.

As of 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27 only 14 residents remained without power. LaRue said that management was still working with Eversource to get those homes and buildings back on the grid. 

LaRue said borrowed equipment from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency will be sent down to Cape Cod after 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 as the towns are in "far worse shape than Wareham."

With things finally settling down, LaRue gave kudos to his team and Dave Menard of Municipal Maintenance. He said Menard did a "phenomenal job" of clearing roads.

Friday, crews from Municipal Maintenance shut down various main roads around Wareham to accommodate extensive snow removal efforts.

"Dave [Menard] deserves a lot of credit for the amount of roads that opened in a small period of time," LaRue said.

Also highlighted was Senator Kelley Dooner's work within the emergency center, arriving to help with ordering the front-end loaders. LaRue said the town would have been "lost" without her resources.