On Monday, Duxbury police had a blunt message for residents as a powerful winter blast tore through town: please stay home and off the roads.
Heavy, wet snow combined with strong winds to pull down trees and utility wires across Duxbury, leaving streets blocked and neighborhoods cut off. The Department of Public Works, the fire department's public information officer and police were all out working to clear roadways and debris while officials repeatedly urged people to avoid nonessential travel.
Residents were also reminded that any downed power line should be treated as dangerous and potentially live. Officials stressed that emergencies should be reported by calling 911, not by trying to move debris or wires on their own.
Town Closes Non‑Emergency Offices, Cuts Off Beach Access
In a public weather notice, the town announced that all non‑emergency municipal facilities, including Town Hall, the senior center, the library and Duxbury Beach, would be closed Monday and possibly Tuesday while crews assess storm damage, according to the Town of Duxbury.
The notice also warned residents to stay away from the beach and to keep oversand access closed as conditions worsened, underscoring that this was not the day for a seaside stroll.
National Guard Requested As Crews Battle Heavy, Wet Snow
Local officials told reporters that the fire department had handled dozens of storm‑related calls and had requested help from the National Guard to reach neighborhoods cut off by deep drifts and fallen trees, WCVB reported.
Utilities, already contending with toppled poles and torn‑down lines across the region, warned customers to brace for lengthy restoration times. Statewide outage trackers showed hundreds of thousands of customers in the dark at the height of the storm, according to CBS Boston.
Safety Tips, Reporting Problems And Tracking Outages
Officials reiterated a few non‑negotiables: stay well clear of any downed wire, always assume a fallen line is live, and call 911 for life‑threatening emergencies instead of trying to clear debris or handle wires yourself.
For power outage reports and restoration estimates, utility companies are directing customers to use their outage maps and phone hotlines. Eversource customers can check real‑time status and contact information through the Eversource outage map.
The Duxbury Police Department's Facebook reel includes the town advisory along with video of crews carving paths through snow‑choked roads. Residents are being urged to monitor official town channels and utility pages for updates and to wait for the all‑clear before venturing back onto the streets.
