Blizzard Of '26: The Cleanup Is Underway

The cleanup following the historic Blizzard of ‘26 is well underway, with utility crews making strong progress in restoring electrical service to many.

 On the Lower Cape, as of Thursday morning, 59 percent of Orleans customers were without power, 57 percent of Brewster customers, 40 percent of Chatham ratepayers and 27 percent of Harwich residents. At the height of the storm, nearly all customers in some towns were without power. Eversource reports that the vast majority of power will be restored by the end of the day Friday, but many will see the lights come on sooner than that.

 Power outages are the primary reason that schools remain closed. There were no classes in the Monomoy or Nauset districts Thursday, nor at the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School. Cape Tech also remained closed and was expected to be closed on Friday as well, since that school is serving as an emergency shelter.

 In addition to Cape Tech, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School was opened as a regional shelter. Nauset Regional High School is not in use as a shelter. These facilities provide meals and overnight service, and accept pets. For details and updated information, click here.

Lower Cape towns are also operating a series of warming centers, which are open during the day and provide no food. Centers were being operated at Brewster Town Hall, the Chatham Community Center, the Harwich public safety facility on Sisson Road, Monomoy Regional High School, Orleans Town Hall and Lower Cape TV on Namskaket Road, Orleans. Find updated information here.

 Coastal flooding from the storm appeared to be minimal, with no major damage reported at town landings in Chatham.

 Some gas stations ran out of fuel and others were inoperable because of the power outage, leaving lines of motorists at the remaining gas stations seeking to fuel up their vehicles and fill gasoline tanks for home generators.

 Local officials have responded to scores of reports of carbon monoxide alarms and people being sickened by fumes from portable generators. To reduce the risk of poisoning, keep generators away from buildings and in well-ventilated areas; also ensure that all natural gas vents are free from snow drifts, to keep carbon monoxide from home heating systems from accumulating inside.

 Utility officials remind people to treat all downed wires as if they were live, and to be careful while beginning the cleanup of yard debris and downed tree limbs. Motorists are also warned to beware of pedestrians in the road, since sidewalks are generally not cleared.

 Despite earlier concerns, the Cape Cod Chronicle was printed on time Wednesday despite power outages and other challenges. Delivery by the U.S. Postal Service will be delayed because of power outages at regional mail hubs in Wareham and Providence. For the next few days, access to our electronic edition is free for all readers. Click e-edition at the top of this page to access it.