Much of the power restored in Gardner MA by 2pm, Winchendon still 18% without power, other communities still struggling. Current MEMA Power Outage map, CLICK HERE.
AUDIO From Mayor Nicholson on the storm situation:
Affected Customers Dropping
The number of customers without power in Gardner dropped to 281. Warming Centers are open in various communities. In Gardner, the Senior Center, the Community Room at the Police Station are open and are also offering hot soup. The Levi-Heywood Memorial Library also welcomes people needing to stay warm.
Supermarkets Affected
Walmart appears still closed as the phone still rings and rings. That situation may change rapidly. Hannaford employees were seen replacing meat on the shelves that was in a refrigerated truck since last night. However, produce was not on the shelves and customers were not allowed to purchase frozen foods – an employee stated they are presumed lost. Replacement items not expected until Friday. Price Chopper did not answer the line, but a corporate spokesman called the store and reported they are open and at full capacity. An Athol Market Basket spokesman confirmed that they are open and everything is available. Market Basket also has a generator system so a power outage would not affect them. FYI: Stores in Fitchburg and Leominster could be an option as that area was less affected.
South Gardner Affected Longer
Gardner Mayor Nicholson on the morning of January 24, 2023 stated that the majority of power outages were in South Gardner which is fed from the Westminster Substation and that warming centers would be open until at least 7pm.
Upcoming Wednesday Storm Preparation
The Mayor expressed concern for the storm tomorrow indicating a meeting later today with several department heads.”We will be evaluating the process for opening up temporary emergency shelters, the threshold for which a state of emergency would need to be called, our salt supply quantity, emergency food operations, and other topics. I will provide additional information to you all after that time.” Last evening around 8pm , 2,274 customers were without power in Gardner and another storm is predicted for Wednesday evening into Thursday.
Earlier version of this story including incremental updates, CLICK HERE.