Springfield DPW responds to critics

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Springfield's DPW defended their response to the February Nor'Easter after they were criticized by for residents who were snowed in for days.

After nearly two feet of snow fell in a 24 hour period, many residents felt trapped in Springfield. "It's scary to be stuck in your house and not be able to access out in the event of an emergency," said a Springfield resident.

Springfield's DPW admits it was overwhelmed. "These were the worst conditions, I was here for the blizzard of '78 this was the worst conditions that I ever drove in."
 
Springfield DPW Director Al Chwalek stood before the City Council's Planning and Economic Development Committee Wednesday night to lay out what happened.

The agency deployed all of its resources, including 180 pieces of equipment operated by private contractors. However, Chwalek explained most of the equipment wasn't big enough to handle the amount of snow they faced. "It's a storm that my department was not set up to handle quickly."

And while many residents understood why crews struggled in the height of the storm, it's what happened after that is fueling frustration.

One Springfield resident said, "Monday I saw a city street plow coming down the street and said thank god he drove to the end and turned around and left never dropped his plow, who's in charge."

"I just don't understand why if you're on the street why you don't just finish it so it's done and it's not a problem anymore," according to another Springfield resident.

The DPW says they can only do so much with what they have; some are wondering why they don't have more. "This is one of those events that are so difficult to plan but you guys have to find a way to improve this situation." 

The Nor'easter was the ninth time the DPW had to plow, sand, or salt the streets.