A significant winter storm swept through the region over Sunday and Monday, bringing temporary disruptions throughout Chelsea. The city was blanketed with 18″ of wind-driven snow, accompanied by considerable drifting as the storm persisted from 3 p.m. Sunday through 4 p.m. Monday. Despite the challenging conditions, an aggressive deployment of snow removal and salting equipment operating continuously during the storm ensured that by Monday morning, virtually all major thoroughfares and residential streets remained passable. According to Foti, the city applied 300 tons of salt over a 24 hour period. The enforcement of the city’s strict towing regulations also proved beneficial, allowing plow operators greater access to streets for snow clearing. Only 26 vehicles required towing—a reduction of 25% compared to typical storm operations. City officials attributed this success partly to a reverse 911 alert distributed to 9,800 residents within 10 minutes at an expense of $5,000. Additional notification methods, including flashing lights and street-level police alerts, further enhanced public awareness. The overall cost to the city for snow removal and salting operations reached approximately $28,000, as reported by Joseph Foti, Director of Public Works.
Snowstorm Met With Organized Response Throughout City
