Island digs out, journey ban issued

Updated Feb. 24, 9 am

The Island started to dig out from beneath practically two toes of snow after a historic blizzard left hundreds on the Island with out energy and roads impassable with a journey ban in place.

The Steamship Authority introduced that ferries wouldn’t be working this morning, largely as a consequence of crews being unable to get to work. Town places of work and most shops have been nonetheless closed this morning. Vineyarders appeared to be spending the morning shoveling driveways and entryways and struggling to get again to work on Tuesday. For those that have been capable of work at home, the digital commute was the one approach to go. 

Last night time at round 6 pm, Gov. Maura Healey issued a journey ban for Martha’s Vineyard. 

This is an extension of the journey bans that have been positioned on Bristol, Plymouth, and Barnstable counties earlier Monday. Healey additionally activated an extra 150 National Guard members to assist with storm response, bringing the entire as much as 350 members.

On the Island, winds as excessive as 71 mph and heavy snowfall anticipated to build up as much as two toes of snow led to energy outages for over 10,000 Eversource prospects. 

“While the worst of the storm is behind us and much of the state is shoveling out, conditions remain across Southeastern Massachusetts,” Healey mentioned in a press launch. “We need everyone to stay off the roads for their own safety and to allow our crews to do their work — especially in Bristol, Plymouth, and Barnstable counties and on the Vineyard. We will also have additional members of the National Guard assisting municipalities with snow and debris removal, transportation, non-fire related emergency responses, rescues and any other needs. It will take some time for crews to address snow removal and power outages, so we urge everyone to remain cautious and patient while we work to get things back to normal.” 

Healey additionally directed non-emergency state staff within the government division to work remotely and urged employers to contemplate permitting their staff to do the identical. 

The following people are exempt from the journey ban: 

• Public security autos, sworn and civilian public security personnel, together with these offering providers at correctional services, and personal sector safety personnel
• Public works autos and public works personnel, together with contract personnel supporting public works operations
• Public transportation autos and public transportation personnel, together with contract personnel supporting public transportation operations
• Government personnel conducting official enterprise
• Utility firm autos and personnel, together with contract personnel supporting utility response and restoration efforts
• Personnel immediately supporting storm response operations, together with however not restricted to emergency shelter personnel
• Personnel supporting human providers services, together with however not restricted to residential housing applications and human providers shelter operations
• Healthcare personnel, together with however not restricted to house healthcare personnel and private care assistants
• Personnel delivering or supporting providers at healthcare services, together with those who present long run care and psychological well being care, in addition to hospitals and different healthcare services
• Vehicles and personnel offering important provides to healthcare services, together with those who present long run care and psychological well being care, in addition to hospitals and different healthcare services
• News media
• Private sector snow elimination gear engaged in, or touring in reference to the elimination or clearance of snow and ice from public or personal sector services
• Patients touring for the aim of receiving pressing important care, and individuals touring with these sufferers who’re essential to facilitate that pressing important care
• Travel mandatory to take care of important personal sector services, providers and operations, and to ship or help important personal sector providers and provides in important infrastructure sectors similar to vitality, gasoline, monetary programs, and the availability of important commodities
• Travel to help enterprise operations that present important providers to the general public, together with gasoline stations, pharmacies, meals shops and {hardware} shops

A state of emergency remains to be in impact for many of the state, and people who break the journey ban might be topic to a $500 tremendous.