Wareham in recovery mode following major snowstorm

Plows scraping the roads, shovels digging into snow and the trickling sound of icicles melting can be heard around town as maintenance crews and emergency staff work tirelessly to get Wareham back to normal.

According to the National Weather Service, 30.1 inches of snow hit Wareham from Sunday, Feb. 22 to Monday, Feb. 23. As the snow cleared and dawn opened up a new day, the gateway town was full of homes without power and impassible roads.

Emergency Management Director, Calib LaRue, said town personnel were working around the clock to clear roads and restore electricity. From carrying disabled patients up stairs in nursing homes without power to rescuing stranded motorists in trapped vehicles, many staff members have been working with no sleep. 

The town has requested state assistance as LaRue said the emergency teams have "exhausted all resources." Wareham remains in a state of emergency, extending the original Tuesday, Feb. 24 time of 9 p.m. until further notice.

Town Administrator, Derek Sullivan, reported that power around town is continuing to be restored but as of 5:00 p.m. Tuesday approximately 61% of Wareham is without power. Eversource estimates storm restoration will be substantially complete by end of day Friday, Feb. 27.

"The snow is very difficult to remove according to municipal maintenance," he said. "The wet type of snow the storm started with transitioned into light, fluffy snow which gave that over 30 inch accumulation in Wareham."

Governor Maura Healey ordered an ban on non-essential motor vehicle travel in Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable counties on Monday following a state of emergency declaration. The ban was lifted at noon on Tuesday 

LaRue said that emergency management has been receiving multiple calls from concerned and upset residents. While the frustration is understandable, many town maintenance staff members have not been home since the beginning of the storm, he said. 

"I don't want the public to think we're neglecting them, or that we're not taking them serious," he said. "This is an extremely high impactful storm we received."

The MultiService Center had overnight sheltering due to conditions, something LaRue said has never been done before. Residents were evacuated from their homes using Humvees and will be moved to other nearby shelters as the center can't accommodate multi-day stays. 

Crews are focusing on restoring power and plowing higher-density areas to make access to side roads and neighborhoods easier. LaRue stressed that residents stay put and remain patient as public safety is the focus of operations.

As time goes on, more resources will be made available to Wareham. LaRue urged residents to call 911 if needed, but to understand that staff is low and response times will vary on a needs basis due to conditions. 

"Just hunker down, bear with us and be a good neighbor," LaRue said. 

Chair of the Wareham Select Board, Judith Whiteside, recalled back to the historic blizzard of 1978. Without the weather predictions of 2026, she said the biggest difference between the two was the level of preparedness. 

Working at National Bank in New Bedford, she said her trek home took over two hours. 

"I can't remember how many days I was without power, but it was several. I had a generator," she said. 

Whiteside commended the community efforts before, during and after the storm, highlighting LaRue's work alongside police and fire departments, municipal maintenance and emergency medical services. She said the older and windier roads in town make clearing efforts all the more difficult, but that the town has found ways to manage. 

"Derek [Sullivan] was able to get a front end loader from the state because of our declaration of state of emergency," she said. "So we have better ways of coping with it."

Wareham Public Schools are closed Wednesday, Feb. 25 alongside town government buildings. The warming center located at the MultiService Center, 48 Marion Road, will be open from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. on Wednesday.