After Blizzard, Island Attempts to Dig Out

Islanders continued to feel the effects of this week’s blizzard Tuesday morning, with power still out for thousands and transportation limited. 

Nearly 8,000 customers had no electricity as of 7:30 a.m., according to Eversource. A majority of the homes and businesses were in Edgartown, which had 3,359 customers without power, and Tisbury, which had 1,184. Chappaquiddick remained in the dark as well, with 734 homes without power.

The slow-moving and powerful northeaster dropped nearly two feet of snow on the Island, and the heavy wet precipitation bowed trees and power lines. By Tuesday morning, some roads were passable, and Gov. Maura Healey announced that she was lifting her ban on non-essential travel on the Island at noon.

The Vineyard, Cape Cod and the South Coast were some of the hardest hit areas in Massachusetts; 20 inches of snow were recorded in West Tisbury. 

Eversource said it was going to bring in additional out-of-state workers to provide aid to the region, and the Steamship Authority was able to get workers to the Vineyard on Tuesday morning on an unscheduled trip. After cancelling all trips on the Vineyard route Monday, the ferry line resumed limited service late Tuesday morning. Like others, the authority was struggling with crew shortages caused by the weather and travel conditions, and the M/V Martha's Vineyard was the only vessel running for the day. 

The storm's enduring bombardment of snow and strong winds made for long days for plow drivers. Kirk Metell, the director of public works in Tisbury, said he had just got in Tuesday morning after plowing for 30 hours straight. 

“This one was tough, the wind last night piled up drifts on Skiff [avenue] and around the school,” he told the Gazette. “Lambert's Cove looks like a war zone.”

His goal for the day was to rewiden the roads, push back the snow, and remove the buildup at the town buildings and major sidewalks. On Wednesday, he planned to start trucking out the snow from the downtown parking lots. 

“Town offices are closed, but as always DPW crew stands at the ready,” he said. 

Many Islanders were making their initial assesment of the storm damage Tuesday. 

Ray Ferreira, an Oak Bluffs resident, was sound asleep at his home on Katama avenue during the storm Monday night. When he awoke Tuesday, he found a large tree had come down on his roof. Luckily, it didn't break through and must have fallen gently, Mr. Ferreira said. 

“It's a perfect angle where it laid even with the roof,” he said. 

Michelle Hogan, the incoming manager of the Edgartown Yacht Club, was walking through downtown Edgartown Tuesday morning to survey the snow. She had just moved to the Island Thursday from Hawaii, but had lived in the northeast and Nantucket in the past, so she wasn't totally unfamiliar with northeasters. 

Still, this was different. 

“I've maybe seen one storm like this since I've been around,” she said. 

Ms. Hogan, like much of Edgartown, was without power, and spent her time during the storm reading Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie before digging out parts of the yacht club. 

Several warming centers had opened due to the lack of power, including at the West Tisbury library and the Martha's Vineyard Museum.

Spirits were high at the Edgartown School Tuesday morning as the designated warming center supplied charging stations, hot food and a place to thaw out for Edgartown residents, many of whom remain without power. 

Town officials opened the warming center in the school’s cafeteria early Monday evening when it became clear that thousands of homes would remain without power. It reopened early Tuesday morning and will be open for “as long as there is a need,” said Kate Campbell, the Edgartown School principal. 

Several utility poles with power lines had fallen around Cannonball Park during the high winds and heavy snow of the blizzard. Midday, crews were working to replace them, with power expected to be restored in the early evening. 

The school has a generator, and multiple fallen trees on campus did not do any damage to the building. 

Over 50 people from Edgartown had utilized the warming center, according to Ms. Campbell, with more trickling in as the day brightened and roads were cleaned up. Many walked or drove to the warming center, with police driving people as needed. 

About two dozen people warmed up in the cafeteria midday on Tuesday, sipping hot coffee and charging their electronics. Children in snow pants kicked around a ball with each other between juice boxes. Dan Townes and Pat Toomey made sandwiches in the kitchen and prepped a shepherd’s pie for the evening, and Ken Romero and Ms. Campbell greeted new arrivals. 

“For me being new to this community, it validates and really commends who Edgartown is,” said Ms. Campbell, who started at the school in July. “The school is a hub…it’s not just my building, it’s the town’s building, and we need to see however it can be utilized for the town.”

More than 700 homes were without power on Chappaquiddick and the Chappaquiddick Community Center had opened Tuesday to help out the frigid few living on the island. But the warming station was expected to lose power due to its solar panels being covered in ice, according to Tina Humber-Floyd, manager of the center.

“Unfortunately with that wind and everything it’s just icing right up,” Ms. Humber-Floyd said.

There are roughly six people inside the center warming-up and charging their devices. As of noon on Tuesday, the center's solar panels were holding 18 per cent battery, which Ms. Humber-Floyd expected would drain completely in a couple hours if the ice doesn’t melt. 

The center installed the panels over the summer and this is their first time using solar energy during the winter. Ms. Humber-Floyd said she expects all power to shut-off once the battery drains.

The Chappaquiddick Ferry was back on its regular service starting Tuesday morning according to co-owner Peter Wells.

Spirits were high at the Edgartown School Tuesday morning as the designated warming center supplied charging stations, hot food and a place to thaw out for Edgartown and Katama residents, many of whom remain without power. 

Town officials opened the warming center in the school’s cafeteria early Monday evening when it became clear that thousands of homes would remain without power. It reopened early Tuesday morning and will be open for “as long as there is a need,” said Kate Campbell, the Edgartown School principal. 

Several utility poles with power lines had fallen around Cannonball Park during the high winds and heavy snow of the blizzard. Midday, crews were working to replace them, with power expected to be restored in the early evening. 

The school has a generator, and multiple fallen trees on campus did not do any damage to the building. 

Over 50 people from Edgartown and Katama had utilized the warming center, according to Ms. Campbell, with more trickling in as the day brightened and roads were cleaned up. Many walked or drove to the warming center, with police driving people as needed. 

About two dozen people warmed up in the cafeteria midday on Tuesday, sipping hot coffee and charging their electronics. Children in snow pants kicked around a ball with each other between juice boxes. Dan Townes and Pat Twomey made sandwiches in the kitchen and prepped a shepherd’s pie for the evening, and Ken Romero and Ms. Campbell greeted new arrivals. 

“For me being new to this community, it validates and really commends who Edgartown is,” said Ms. Campbell, who started at the school in July. “The school is a hub…it's not just my building, it's the town’s building, and we need to see however it can be utilized for the town.”

Town offices remained closed and the parking ban in Edgartown remains in effect.

Some stores were open, including the Stop & Shop in Edgartown. But the grocer was running on generators, meaning many of the refrigerated shelves were empty.

See more storm pictures here.

Louisa Hufstader, Haley Sandlow and Gwyn Skiles contributed to this article. 

This article appears in February 27, 2026.