Cities ask Gov. Chafee for help after blizzard

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Gov. Lincoln Chafee agreed to provide state assistance with snow removal to leaders in several Rhode Island communities during a morning conference call he held with municipal leaders, WPRI.com has learned.

Cranston, Pawtucket, North Providence and Central Falls are among the cities and towns that will bring in state trucks to help, particularly with side roads that in some cases haven’t seen a plow since before the height of Friday’s blizzard, which blanketed the state with more than two feet of snow.

Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien admitted the city has struggled to recover. “We’re well behind,” he told WPRI.com. “The city was not equipped to handle this type of storm.”

Grebien said about 60% of his city’s side roads have been plowed, but acknowledged that there is more work to do throughout the day. One problem, he said, is that communities have found themselves competing for larger trucks to help remove the snow.

In North Providence, Mayor Charles Lombardi told WPRI.com he pulled trucks off the street during the storm, which caused the town to fall behind on snow removal. He said the heavy snow made it difficult to plow.

He admitted that he isn’t pleased with how the town handled the storm.

“We had a good year financial so if I take a hit, I take a hit,” Lombardi said. “I’m not happy myself.”

Dan McGowan ( dmcgowan@wpri.com ) covers politics and the city of Providence for WPRI.com. Follow him on Twitter: @danmcgowan