Patrick Says Massachusetts Spared Hurricane Sandy Devastation
BOSTON (CBS) - Gov. Deval Patrick says Massachusetts was fortunate to escape Hurricane Sandy with no major devastation, injuries or deaths.
Photos: Sandy Hits Massachusetts
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
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In a news conference at the MEMA bunker in Framingham Tuesday, Patrick said rapid response teams are gathering information and will have a clear idea about the extent of the damage by midday.
More than 265,000 customers still had no electricity late Tuesday morning.
Check: Emergency Utility Numbers, Links
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports in Norton:
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"We feel very fortunate, particularly if you look at the scenes and see the reports from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut," Patrick said. "I've been in touch with my counterparts and through MEMA to see what things we can do as we are able to release resources to help."
Read: Keller: Hurricane Sandy Showed Government At Its Best
Patrick told reporters now is the time utility companies will be tested on their performance.
Leading up to the storm, Patrick warned utility companies in Massachusetts to have a plan in place.
"Now is the time for utility companies to show customers their performance," Patrick said. "Now it's time to perform and we'll just have to see how that goes and make a judgement."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports from Weston
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By Tuesday morning the Tobin Bridge had reopened after the inbound lanes were shut down Monday evening. A section of the D line branch of the Green Line in Newton was closed because of fallen trees.
"There is a roof here, siding there, some issues down at Route 28 in Harwich but no place where there is devastation," Patrick said. "We are relieved by the lack of coastal damage."
Patrick said Westport and Dartmouth were two towns in the southeastern part of the state that authorities were worried about during the storm, but said both turned out OK.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports from Dartmouth:
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The governor added that Winthrop and Revere shores were also hit hard but both are in the process of being cleaned up.
Prior to the storm, scraping was done by the Army Corps of Engineers to protect Plum Island from erosion.
Related: What To Do After The Storm
Patrick said once crews are able to assess the damage, a dollar figure will be assigned.
