SOUTHWICK – The town weathered Nemo quite well after lessons learned in the October 2011 storm, said Emergency Management Director Charles Dunlap.
“Those lessons learned prepared us for this one,” Dunlap said this morning. “It got us through.”
Following Friday’s declaration of a state of emergency by Gov. Deval Patrick at 12:15 p.m., Southwick declared its own just five minutes later. Dunlap and his team opened the Southwick Emergency Operations Center at 10 a.m. Friday and worked through the storm, along with the Department of Public Works (DPW).
DPW Director Jeffrey Neece said snow removal went very smoothly considering Nemo dumped about two feet of snow across western Massachusetts.
“The major roads were cleared and open in late afternoon Saturday,” Neece said. “There are always going to be complaints about spots where people got snow back on their driveway, but the roads were passable with no major incidents.”
Crews began sanding at 10 a.m. Friday and worked straight through until 6 p.m. Saturday.
“We had cots set up in my office so they could sleep. But they didn’t,” Neece said, commending the dedication of the plow drivers and staff.
The one incident reported over the weekend was the collapse of the greenhouse at Southwick Florist on College Highway.
Owner Russell Fox said he and his family were happy no one was injured in the collapse and they continue to be open for business.
“Nobody was injured and that’s the most important thing,’ said Fox. “And, we are open for business and we are ready for Valentine’s Day.”
Fox said he is not sure why the greenhouse collapsed under the snow, which was, despite the accumulation, a powdery snow.
“It’s had heavier snow than that on it and it’s designed to withstand snow,” he said. “It is steel construction, so we don’t know.”
Fox said the family-owned business would be ready for spring and Easter despite the loss of the greenhouse this season.
“We have already talked to other growers and they are helping us out,” said Fox. “Once we get the insurance taken care of and the weather is better, we will clean it up and work on a design and start to rebuild.”
Fox said luckily they did not have any flowers in the greenhouse yet; just supplies he believes can be salvaged.
Dunlap and Neece were both working this morning to prepare for the next wave of weather to hit the area, which is set to include more snow and freezing rain.
“We are still under a state of emergency,” said Dunlap. “But I don’t think what’s in store this week isn’t something we can’t handle – it’s just winter weather.”
Dunlap said part of the reason he believes the storm cleanup went so smoothly is because people respected the travel ban placed on the entire commonwealth by Patrick.
“I have to commend people for staying off the roads,” he said. “People used common sense and prepared and the travel curfew really helped us get through without major accidents.”
