BLIZZARD UPDATE

This City of New Bedford meeting on February 28, 2026, provided a detailed update on the city's response to a historic blizzard, the largest on record since the mid-19th century. City officials discussed the extensive snow removal efforts, highlighting the challenges of clearing side streets due to poor visibility and parked cars. They reported significant progress in unblocking streets, with only a few remaining blocked as of the meeting date. The city utilized about 75 pieces of equipment, including plows and front-end loaders, supplemented by contractors such as DW White and resources coordinated through the state. The mayor acknowledged the cooperation with Eversource for power restoration and noted that trash collection was suspended temporarily due to snow conditions, with service resuming the following week. The meeting also covered the continued parking ban to facilitate snow removal and the reopening of key city facilities and transportation hubs. While no specific contract awards or new procurement actions were announced, the discussion emphasized the critical role of existing contracts with local and state contractors in the snow removal and cleanup operations. The city is also coordinating with state agencies regarding reimbursement for out-of-state assistance. Overall, the meeting focused on operational updates and resource deployment rather than new procurement decisions.