Cleanup will take ‘community effort’ after blizzard breaks records with 36-inch snowfall in Lakeville
A Lakeville firefighter battles through blizzard conditions while responding to an emergency call on Monday, Feb. 23. Photo source: Lakeville Fire Facebook
Lakeville first responders seen at the Tuesday morning crash between a municipal plow truck and a passenger vehicle. No injuries were reported, and both drivers were essential workers according to the fire department.
A Lakeville firefighter battles through blizzard conditions while responding to an emergency call on Monday, Feb. 23. Photo source: Lakeville Fire Facebook
Lakeville first responders seen at the Tuesday morning crash between a municipal plow truck and a passenger vehicle. No injuries were reported, and both drivers were essential workers according to the fire department.
LAKEVILLE — Although no major medical emergencies were reported during the Monday blizzard, how to remove the aftermath of the historic snow dump remains uncertain in Lakeville.
Town roads are in “good shape” as of Tuesday afternoon, Fire Chief Michael O’Brien said, but the town is asking for state assistance to clear many of private roads and neighborhoods that remain snowed-in.
Since the blizzard broke early Monday morning, about 36 inches of snow fell in Lakeville, topping snowfall amounts seen in the region during the blizzard of 1978.
“This blows the doors off of previous records,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien said there are numerous private roads and privately owned neighborhoods facing “big” access issues.
“A lot of these contract plow drivers are just out-matched by these snow totals and they can’t make any headway in these neighborhoods,” O’Brien said.
While the town waits for answers on their requested state aid, he said he is unsure of what the solution will be. Since Lakeville is a small town, he said he’s unsure how much assistance will be provided.
“We only have a handful of DPW employees that have been operating nonstop since the storm started. It's just a problem we haven't been able to solve yet,” he said.
O’Brien said he is also concerned for elderly residents struggling to leave their homes. He urges residents to help neighbors when possible, since the town might be unable to for a number of days.
“Their doors might be snowed-in shut and this is something that a local municipality doesn't really have the resources to address,” O’Brien said, “it's going to take a community effort.”
Although travel is still hazardous — or impossible — due to the record-breaking storm, the lack of widespread power outages benefited first responders and road crews as they battled the elements with limited resources, O’Brien said.
He said about 300 households are currently out of power.
Another 2 inches of snowfall is forecasted for Wednesday, a “light dusting after what we just went through,” O’Brien said.
He said Department of Public Works crews have done an “outstanding” job in clearing roads, noting many members worked non-stop throughout Monday due to limited personnel.
State roads in Lakeville, including Bedford and County streets, are harder to navigate since safety concerns halted work for state road crews.
While there have been no fires reported Monday or Tuesday morning, the fire department has received a higher volume of ambulance calls and responded to multiple carbon-dioxide incidents caused by improper ventilation around household furnaces.
A municipal plow truck and passenger vehicle collided on Lakeside Avenue Tuesday morning. O’Brien said no injuries occurred, and noted tall snowbanks along roadways can limit visibility and endanger drivers.
“It's just been a lot of extra volume and nothing catastrophic or anything overly significant,” O’Brien said. “If you can stay home another day, it would be a good service to the community.”
