How Cape Cod and southeastern Mass. are coping after Monday's monster blizzard

While the region digs out from the blizzard, communities on Cape Cod and in southeastern Massachusetts have been hit particularly hard. Parts of the Cape saw wind gusts of 70 mph and as much as 20 inches of snow during Monday's storm.

A day after the storm, tens of thousands of residents were still without power.

As Cape Cod residents waited for crews to clear the roads and restore power, some sought refuge in shelters and warming centers set up in their communities.

In South Yarmouth, Matthew Freeman thought he had enough firewood to ride out the storm at home with his mother. But after 24 hours of burning, the Freemans realized it was all gone.

"I started taking fencing from our garage, started burning fencing, some extra wood we had, and it just ran out," he said.

He tried old furniture from the basement. But it still wasn’t enough. Finally, in the wee hours, they packed up their two Scottish terriers, Finn and Ellie, and drove through terrible conditions to a shelter at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. Around 50 people were already there in a gymnasium, asleep on Red Cross cots.

"This was, I want to say, almost life saving," he said Tuesday.

Across the Cape, more than 150,000 Eversource customers lost power. Nearly all businesses were closed Tuesday. Major traffic lights were out.

Most gas stations were turning people away because their systems were down, or they’d run out of fuel supplies.

Gas stations on the South Coast and Cape Cod largely rely on three main fuel depots in Boston, Braintree and Providence, according to the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association.

Peter Brennan, the association’s executive director, said he received reports of long lines at the depot in Providence because of the blizzard.

“The wait times could double and triple soon. That's also a result of the orders to stay off the roads. So if our trucks can't be on the roads filling up, delivering to the stations, you could see fuel outages,” he said in an interview.

But Brennan said power outages were likely playing a large role in keeping some gas stations closed since many don’t have generators.

In Scituate, which was also hit hard by the nor'easter, some residents were just grateful they were spared the worst of the coastal flooding.

“We lucked out,” said John Rooney, a longtime Scituate resident who lives close to the water near the town’s historic lighthouse. “The snow held it down somewhat. But the wind was horrendous.”

Nearby, Darlene Goetz shoveled out the mix of snow and sand that washed up from the beach. The whole neighborhood lost power, she said, which led to some flooding in her basement. Still, she was glad to be outside for a change.

“ After what happened yesterday, you wouldn't expect this beautiful sunshiny day. But here it is,” said Goetz.

The Ferriera family — Shauna, Jake and daughter Myah — were at home when an electrical pole fell, taking out power. When they decided they needed to get to a shelter, their cars were trapped by a fallen tree.

So they walked. A half-mile into the trek, police picked them up and brought them to the Wellfleet Fire Department.

The couple called their daughter Myah a “trooper.” The 8-year-old has special needs and severe allergies, so they packed a tote bag full of snacks, her stuffed monkey and a coloring book.

The Ferreiras said that family could pick them up soon — or at least when the roads are clear, and power is back on at their house.

Gov. Maura Healey urged utilities to provide a better estimate for when power will be restored. Crews have come from across the region to help get the heat back on and clear debris.

"I’ve activated 350 National Guard. We’ve got state police throughout the region and we’ve got crews coming from other states assisting our own department of transportation with as much equipment as possible," she told reporters after visiting a shelter set up at Barnstable Intermediate School Tuesday.

Back at the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, 70-year-old Barbara Cormier said she was relieved to stay at the shelter with her mother, who’s 91. They were the first to arrive, after escaping the cold for a few hours in a hospital waiting room.

The first night was rough, Cormier said. Her mother has Alzheimers and was anxious. Still, it was better than freezing.

"I just stuck two cots together for my mom and me so I could hold her hand and everything. So yeah, it was pretty comfortable," she said. "I brought her pillow with her so she’d be more comfortable."

She said they finally went to sleep around 4 a.m.. Cormier said they’ll stay at the shelter until they can safely go home.