Healey lifts travel ban for southeastern counties

Local News

Gov. Maura Healey instituted a travel ban in multiple counties Monday amid a massive winter storm. Cleanup efforts are ongoing.

Gov. Maura Healey lifted a travel ban for Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, and Dukes counties at noon on Tuesday. The ban was issued Monday as Massachusetts was hit with a historic blizzard. 

A state of emergency was recently lifted for Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, but it remains in effect for the rest of the state. 

“While we are lifting the travel ban, the state of emergency remains in effect for some counties, and we urge people to continue using caution and stay home today if possible to allow crews to do their work,” Healey said in a statement Tuesday morning. 

Non-essential vehicles were banned from traveling in Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, and Dukes counties Monday due to dangerous road conditions. In announcing the ban, Healey said that she had received reports of abandoned and stuck vehicles, and that tow trucks were having difficulty freeing them. She also decreased the speed limit on the Mass. Pike to 40 mph during the storm. 

While much of eastern Massachusetts was rocked by the storm, areas south of Boston and on Cape Cod and the Islands were particularly impacted. Multiple communities received more than 30 inches of snow. Some, like Barnstable, topped out at 37 inches in some locations, according to data from the National Weather Service. 

The heavy, wet snow combined with intense winds caused power outages in many places. More than 250,000 customers, including much of Cape Cod, remained without power as of midday Tuesday. Some communities on the Outer Cape experienced 100% power outages. 

“Our teams continue to be out in full force to support cities and towns after this storm, providing equipment and personnel to help with snow removal and other efforts. We know that there are still many households without power, and the utilities are working hard to assess damage and restore power as quickly and safely as possible,” Healey said. 

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is coordinating with local leaders in every impacted city and town to assess their needs, Healey said. The agency has received more than 90 requests for assistance, which have mostly been for assistance from the National Guard and for public works employees to help with snow removal. Healey activated up to 350 National Guard members to help with the rescue operations and storm recovery efforts. 

The governor also directed MEMA to request out-of-state mutual aid for snow removal. Crews from Vermont arrived in Massachusetts Tuesday morning to assist, according to Healey’s office.