Many Western Mass. residents still trapped in snow

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The travel ban was lifted at 4 this afternoon, but a lot of people in Springfield are still going nowhere. Their streets haven't been touched by the city's plows, and they're angry because it's dangerous.

Like everyone else in Western Massachusetts, April Mitchell-Edmunds was snowbound when she woke up Saturday morning. But unlike most people, things didn't clear up as the day went on. Her street was never plowed.

“I'm waving like hey we're over here but they never even came,” Edmunds told 22News.

She said she tried to be patient, but she's not worried about herself.

“There are a lot of elderly family members on the street and neighbors and they have health challenges and if something was to happen no one would be able to get to them in time,” Said April.

April's story on Clarendon Street is far from unique. Dozens of people called 22News Saturday night upset and concerned about their neglected neighborhoods. Their only way to get out was by trudging through the untouched snow.

Sarah Williams of Springfield told 22News, “You can't even check on your neighbors. You try to help your neighbors and check on them see if they're okay, but there's no way unless they have a phone.”

While left to fend for themselves, a lot of people take matters into their own hands, and make an even bigger mess.

 “It's not even cars blocking, its mounds of snow in the middle of the road from people unburying themselves. You've got to backtrack to get back out it's impassable down there,” Joao Ferrira of Chicopee told 22News.

And the residents still buried in snow have no idea when they'll get out.

“It's the weekend, maybe that's the reason they're a little but slower. If it was a school day or a workday maybe it would've been done,” Said Ferrira.

Mayor Sarno spoke with 22News this morning. He said the plows would be continuing through the night into Sunday and that the main roads would be the first priority.

Many trapped people called the city's 311 number for help, but the only option is to leave a message.