Mass. Digs Out, Cleans Up After Massive Storm

For more news on the storm, and lighter moments, see our blog coverage here.

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick on Saturday asked Massachusetts residents for patience as crews try to get the state cleaned up from a blizzard that dumped more than 2 feet of snow on some communities and left hundreds of thousands of customers without power.

The governor's ban on vehicle traffic was lifted statewide at 4 p.m. Saturday, after being in effect for exactly 24 hours.

But Patrick said residents should stay off the roads if they can, even though driving is now permitted. "We have a lot of snow to dispose of and remove, and it will take some time to do that," he said.

There was at least one storm-related death, as a Boston boy died Saturday afternoon of carbon monoxide poisoning while trying to stay warm inside the family sedan as his father dug it out of a snowbank.

As of 4 p.m. Saturday, there were about 376,000 outages reported, down from a high of 413,000. Most of the outages are in southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod, where wet, heavy snow and winds gusting over 75 mph blew through the region Friday and Saturday. (For the latest outage totals: National Grid, NStar)

One of the outages was Plymouth's Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant, which shut down after losing off-site power. Authorities said there was no threat to public safety.

The utilities, too, have to wait for passable roads to ramp up power-restoration efforts. The companies said they've mobilized thousands of crews to address the outages.

“We are working hand in hand with state and local officials so that we can restore power as quickly and safely as possible, and we appreciate our customers’ patience," Kathy Lyford, National Grid's vice president of New England operations, said in a statement.

All MBTA service has been suspended since 3:30 p.m. Friday. The transit agency said it may start running some subways Sunday but the main goal is to be up and running for the Monday morning commute.

Most regional Amtrak service was cancelled Saturday. Logan Airport said it hopes "to open a runway by 11 p.m." Saturday.

The massive, two-day storm dropped 24.9 inches of snow on Logan, making it the No. 5 all-time Boston snowstorm. Even more snow fell on Worcester and Portland, Maine.

In addition to blizzard warnings across eastern Massachusetts, flood warnings were in effect for the state's east-facing coastline. As a result, residents were evacuated or urged to evacuate in parts of several communities, including Hull, Quincy and Salisbury.

For most Massachusetts residents, however, the storm — and the driving ban — meant a long period cooped up inside — though some ventured out for some adventure Friday night.

On Saturday, those residents awoke to snow drifts at their doors. Then they snapped photos of white mounds, and began to shovel out.

With additional reporting by The Associated Press