When Southeast New England residents woke up Monday morning, February 23, they were greeted with feet of snow and a likely chill to the air inside their homes. Parts of Massachusetts recorded a staggering 37 inches of snow, leaving nearly half a million people without power across the state thanks to a fast-moving Nor’easter that brought wintery weather from Philly to Boston.

Long before the storm reached its peak, Massachusetts Red Crosser were preparing. Volunteers were placed on standby, emergency supplies were prepositioned, and shelter partners across the region confirmed readiness so that when conditions deteriorated, help could begin immediately.

Within hours of the storm’s initial impact, Red Cross disaster workers opened emergency shelters across Cape Cod and the South Shore. Three Cape Cod shelters operated in Barnstable, Dennis-Yarmouth, Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, and another in Plymouth. Shelters welcomed more than 400 residents and their pets. For many clients, particularly older adults who represented the largest group seeking shelter, these locations provided more than warmth. Volunteers offered reassurance, helped recharge medical devices and phones, supported individuals with mobility needs, and provided emotional care as fierce winds and deep snow continued outside.

The storm’s impact extended beyond sheltering operations. Blizzard conditions and prolonged outages forced the cancellation of blood drives across Eastern Massachusetts, including at the Red Cross Kingston blood donation site, resulting in more than 250 units of blood going uncollected and adding pressure to an already fragile national blood supply. Even as some donation sites closed for safety, Red Cross biomedical teams in Massachusetts continued operating laboratories and coordinating distribution to ensure lifesaving blood products reached patients across the region.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey visited Red Cross shelter operations alongside Cape Cod first responders and volunteers, recognizing the importance of coordinated response efforts.

“I am grateful to the Red Cross volunteers and first responders who are working tirelessly to support residents across Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod,” Governor Healey shared during her visit. “Your commitment ensures families have a safe place to turn during some of their most challenging moments.”

Residents of New England wear the Blizzard of 1978 as a badge of courage, a storm that paralyzed the region for days. And you can tell a winter storm is bad when it draws an equal comparison, as this storm did. As shelter operation wound down and closed six days after the storm, Red Cross volunteers continued follow-up services with many clients, insuring their homes were safe and their recovery was progressing.