New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell Updates Recovery Effort After Historic Blizzard

New Bedford is digging out from what Mayor Jon Mitchell is calling a once-in-a-lifetime storm, one that shattered snowfall records and tested the city’s infrastructure, crews and residents like never before.

The Blizzard of '26 dumped an astonishing 37 inches of snow on New Bedford, combined with wind gusts reaching 70 miles per hour. Those powerful winds repeatedly filled streets back in after they had already been plowed, forcing crews to clear many areas multiple times.

Despite the extreme conditions, Mitchell said what stood out most was not the snow, but the people.

READ MORE: New Bedford Sets All-Time Snowfall Record at 37 Inches

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Across New Bedford

“As I drove around the city, I saw neighbors coming outside together and helping each other dig out,” Mitchell said. “People really stepped up.”

The mayor himself experienced that generosity firsthand after his own car became stuck near Presidential Heights. Several residents immediately came out to help push him free.

“I’m supposed to be the guy helping people, not the other way around,” Mitchell said with a laugh. “But people came out of the woodwork. It really says a lot about our community.”

Massive Around-the-Clock Snow Removal Operation

At the height of the recovery effort, New Bedford deployed 142 pieces of equipment, including city vehicles, contractors and assistance from the state. Crews worked around the clock to clear main roads first, ensuring emergency vehicles and essential travel could continue safely.

Mitchell explained that visibility during the blizzard dropped below 10 feet at times, forcing crews to temporarily pull off side streets for safety reasons while focusing on major routes.

“We treated it like a military exercise,” he said. “Hundreds of people working nonstop under very difficult conditions.”

Power Restored Faster Than Expected

Another surprise was how quickly power was restored. While about 5,000 residents lost electricity during the storm, roughly 90 percent had power restored within 24 hours.

Mitchell credited utility crews and preparation efforts for preventing even larger outages.

Patience Still Needed as Cleanup Continues

While main roads are now passable, side streets continue to be cleared and large snow piles are being removed across the city.

Mitchell urged residents to stay off roads unless absolutely necessary and to contact the city’s 311 service if their street still needs attention.

READ MORE: New Bedford Launches NBConnected App, 311 Line

“This was the largest storm in New Bedford’s recorded history,” Mitchell said. “But crews are making steady progress, and we’ll keep working until every street is cleared.”