While some Northern Berkshire residents were still waiting for the lights to blink back on Tuesday, Northern Berkshire officials taking stock of Hurricane Sandy's impact expressed gratitude at being spared a major squall.
From Williamstown to Cheshire to Hancock, power outage numbers diminished throughout the day, as workers continued efforts to remove trees and limbs from power lines. States of emergency declared Sunday by North Adams and Adams were lifted at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
North Adams Mayor Richard J. Alcombright said that while some in the city were quick to criticize, saying officials over-prepared for the storm, he disagrees.
"I think we were very lucky. ... It appears that the storm took a left earlier than predicted, about 150 miles south of where it was supposed to," Alcombright said. "We were spared. Look at what happened in New York City, in New Jersey or in West Virginia. ... If it turned 150 miles north of where it did, we would have gotten the 78 mile-an-hour wind gusts and rain. I'm glad we didn't find out what those winds were like, but I don't think you can be too prepared for something like this."
Some 104 residences on Rock, Pebble, Furnace and Francis streets, as well as Reservoir and Notch roads, remained without power Tuesday. By 7 p.m., the number was down to 39.
"We had a tree fall into a house on lower Notch Road on Monday, which cut the power out there," Al combright said. "A few trees
City crews continued to collect fallen trees and limbs throughout the city Tuesday, after having brought between 15 and 17 truckloads of debris up to the landfill a day earlier, Alcombright added, and Building Inspector Bill Meranti traveled the city observing homes with roof damage.
Adams Department of Public Works Director Thomas Satko reported very little to clean up Tuesday, just "leaves, like we always do at this time of year."
"We really missed it," Satko said. "I'm relieved. I don't have to do all the paperwork that I did after [Tropical Storm] Irene."
In Williamstown, fewer than 10 customers remained without power and all roads had been cleared by 3 p.m., Town Manager Peter Fohlin said.
Cheshire Highway Super intendent Peter Lefebvre said workers spent Tuesday at tempting to restore power to customers on Outlook Avenue and on Richmond Hill, West Mountain, Curran and Wells roads. As of 9 p.m., 143 customers were still affected, according to National Grid.
In Savoy and New Ashford, where outages had been more widespread -- a majority of Savoy and at one point, the whole town of New Ashford were dark -- power was reportedly fully restored Tuesday. Savoy Selectmen's Chair John Tynan said that according to one resident, the town saw 70 mph wind gusts at Sandy's peak hour, around 6 p.m. on Monday.
Clarksburg Town Administrator Thomas Webb reported no major issues Tuesday. National Grid listed the town as having 45 affected customers at 9 p.m.
At the same time, Hancock, which saw Sandy's effects cause several outages along Route 43, had 17 affected customers. Selectmen's Chair Sherman Derby called the town's response to the storm "excellent."
North Adams and Adams will uphold their rescheduled trick or treat hours of Friday, Nov. 2, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
"As National Grid crews continue to restore power to certain areas and the Department of Public Works crews continue with the cleanup, it has been decided that Friday would be the best day," Alcombright said Tuesday. "I am hoping that this change will be convenient for most and apologize for the inconvenience to others."
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