County Commissioners Receive Updates on Blizzard Response, Harbor Ice-Breaking Operations, PFAS Stabilization Efforts
March 4, 2026 (Barnstable, MA) – The Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners received updates during its March 4 meeting on the regional response to Blizzard Hernando, emergency harbor ice-breaking operations conducted across Cape Cod in February, and ongoing PFAS stabilization work near the County complex.
Regional Response to Blizzard Hernando
Andrew Platt, of the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, provided an overview of the County’s regional response to Blizzard Hernando. Platt served in an Incident Command leadership role during the storm response.
At the height of the storm (2/23 at 2pm) Eversource reported that 153,000 customers on the Cape and Islands were without power.
Six regional shelters opened across the Cape, supported by at least 14 local warming centers and charging locations. Hundreds of residents used these facilities as outages extended multiple days.
Food access quickly became a major priority during the response. Through coordination with the Family Table Collaborative and local and national partners, approximately 17,000 meals were distributed to residents affected by the storm.
Transportation assistance was provided by the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, which transported residents and pets to shelters and supported meal transportation and deliveries.
Platt also described how regional emergency coordination occurs through the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC), which is co-chaired by Police Chief Heath Eldridge and Fire Chief Peter Burke. The BCREPC brings together emergency managers from all 15 Cape Cod towns along with public safety agencies, public health officials, hospitals, utilities, transportation providers, and nonprofit partners.
During major events, the Barnstable County Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) activates to support this coordination. Municipal emergency teams work alongside the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, utility companies, public safety leaders, and nonprofit organizations to align resources, share situational awareness, and support local response efforts.
Approximately 200 local, county, state, nonprofit, and utility partners participated in regional coordination calls throughout the storm.
Utility restoration efforts were extensive. Eversource deployed approximately 2,000 line crews statewide, including many assigned to Cape Cod and supported by mutual aid crews from across the Northeast and Canada. Local public works departments also cleared roads to help crews reach impacted neighborhoods.
Shelter operations were supported by numerous volunteer organizations including the American Red Cross, Medical Reserve Corps volunteers, Community Emergency Response Teams, Cape Cod Disaster Animal Response Team members and public health nurses. The International Fund for Animal Welfare provided animal care support for residents sheltering with pets.
AmeriCorps Cape Cod members played a critical role in the response, supporting shelter operations and assisting coordination efforts at the Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC), while county staff from multiple departments also stepped outside their normal roles to support operations.
Emergency Harbor Ice-Breaking Operations
Commissioners also received an update on emergency ice-breaking operations conducted across several Cape Cod harbors in February after unusually thick ice trapped vessels and threatened harbor infrastructure.
Ken Cirillo, Director of Dredge for Barnstable County, explained that the effort was coordinated with local harbor masters following authorization from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Several harbors experienced ice measuring six to eight inches thick, with immediate needs identified in Mashpee, Barnstable, Dennis, Wellfleet, Chatham, and Harwich.
The Coast Guard cleared Saquatucket Harbor in Harwich using a 49-foot vessel and maintained the Hyannis–Nantucket ferry route with a larger cutter.
Barnstable County coordinated additional work using contracted vessels operating under the direction of harbor masters. Two 26-foot boats were deployed for nearly a week, clearing priority areas including Sesuit Harbor, Wellfleet Harbor, Barnstable Harbor, Stage Harbor, and portions of Three Bays and Waquoit Bay.
The work restored access for fishing vessels and emergency response boats while helping reduce potential damage to docks, pilings, and floats caused by shifting ice.
The operation was conducted at a rate of $375 per hour dock-to-dock, with the total cost reaching $31,781.
Harbor masters and fishermen across the region expressed appreciation for the rapid response, particularly in Wellfleet and Chatham where ice conditions had restricted harbor activity.
PFAS Stabilization Efforts
Commissioners also received an update on PFAS stabilization work at the former fire training facility located near the Barnstable County complex.
The presentation was delivered by Paul Ruszala, P.E., Assets and Infrastructure Manager for Barnstable County, and John Paquin, Associate Principal with GZA GeoEnvironmental.
The project involves installation of a permeable reactive barrier designed to capture PFAS compounds moving through groundwater before they reach nearby drinking water sources. The system uses colloidal activated carbon injected into the aquifer to bind contaminants and slow their movement.
Installation took place between July and October and involved approximately 250 injection points reaching depths of 70 to 90 feet. Approximately 400,000 pounds of liquid-form activated carbon were injected into the treatment zone.
Initial monitoring results show significant reductions in PFAS concentrations in groundwater samples collected downgradient of the barrier. Ongoing monitoring will evaluate groundwater movement and the long-term effectiveness of the system.
Officials indicated the barrier is expected to stabilize contaminant movement for approximately ten years or longer, although additional injections may be required in the future.
Repairs are also underway to the site’s pump-and-treat system, which experienced damage in recent months. Monitoring results will help determine whether the system should remain active or transition to standby status.
A public meeting on the remediation effort will take place March 10 at 6:00 PM.
ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF CAPE COD Barnstable County provides exemplary government functions and services to keep our community healthy and safe, promote sustainable growth, and offers a proactive, open government that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Barnstable County. Learn more at www.capecod.gov.
