Source: CNN.com
A severe ice storm prompted President Bush to declare Saturday that a state of emergency exists in northern Massachusetts, a move that authorizes the use of federal aid to help the recovery effort.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are to coordinate relief efforts in the counties of Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Suffolk and Worcester.
By Saturday night, there were 180,000 customers without power, said James Mannion, deputy public information officer for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
The declaration “frees up resources from other states around us,” he said, adding that state officials have asked FEMA for cots to be used in 70 shelters, where 1,300 people were expected to spend Saturday night.
In addition, 750 National Guard troops were deployed in the affected area, he said.
Though much of the ice melted Saturday, it refroze Saturday night.
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One Comment
An unreported story about how a group of 5 men whose families live on the 2nd highest inhabited town in Massachusetts cleared about 5-6 miles of road Friday morning so their families would not be stranded. The town is Washington ,MA and my son was one of the five. With chain saws and a plow they clear the road into Dalton ,MA so they could get servies in Pittsfield. As they emerged coming down the hill, state police, who had block the road off, were very surprised and wondered where from where they came. After they finished their business in Pittsfield they made the trip back. At first the police said no one could go up the hill, they showed ID and said we came down – we’re going back – sounds like pioneers of today. A reported might want to check this out. Small town folks banding together for a common cause in an emergency.