Barnstable County details blizzard response, shelters and multi-million-dollar tab

Mark Forest, chair of the Barnstable County commissioners, told Government 101 listeners the county activated its emergency operations center and convened regional calls with town managers, police and fire chiefs and DPW directors to coordinate the response to a major blizzard.

Forest said the county runs a staffed operations center with generators and direct lines to the National Weather Service and the state emergency management agency. In the days before and during the storm the county convened morning and afternoon calls—sometimes including about 200 municipal and emergency staff—to triage needs, move equipment and prioritize fuel and generator support.

The county also mobilized shelters across multiple communities. Forest described a Yarmouth shelter at the regional high school that hosted more than 200 people and was staffed by county employees, town volunteers and a county medical reserve program; nurses were present to treat residents and the nonprofit Family Table Collaborative provided food service.

Forest and host Eileen Preston discussed local damages and costs. On-air figures cited by Forest put the Town of Falmouth's blizzard expense near $800,000, with about $462,000 budgeted in advance for storm-related expenses; Forest estimated county-level tallies likely would total between $1 million and $2 million when all claims and damage tallies are complete.

Forest praised local police, fire and public works personnel and volunteer groups, including nearly 20 AmeriCorps Cape Cod volunteers who helped staff shelters. He said the county provided coordination and logistical support to towns and that some residents were transported by the regional transit authority when local roads made travel by car impossible.

On reimbursement, Forest said federal support has been less reliable in recent years and the county will be looking to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for assistance. He noted the state has faced reductions in federal funding, which complicates expectations for FEMA or similar federal aid.

The county will compile an after-action report and finalize cost tallies before determining formal requests to state or federal emergency programs. Forest said the work of first responders and volunteers earned “incredible recognition” across Cape Cod.