New England has seen its fair share of winter storms, but the blizzard that swept through Rhode Island and Connecticut beginning Sunday, February 22, 2026, left a mark that residents won’t soon forget. As the storm raged, dumping record-breaking amounts of snow and bringing gusty winds, communities across both states faced widespread power outages, hazardous roads, and unprecedented school closures.
According to East Greenwich News, the snowstorm began impacting East Greenwich, Rhode Island, on Sunday evening. By Monday night, over 1,500 customers were without power, and the Department of Public Works (DPW) had been working tirelessly since 6:00 PM Sunday to clear the roads. The storm’s intensity forced both DPW and Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) crews off the roads for a period, prioritizing only emergency service escorts during the worst conditions. As the snow tapered off, crews worked overnight to ensure that all main roads became passable, shifting focus to side streets as the day wore on.
By Tuesday afternoon, the situation had improved somewhat. The number of customers without power in East Greenwich had dropped to just over 300, though key locations like East Greenwich High School and Meadowbrook Farms Elementary still remained in the dark at 4 p.m. “Our DPW crews have been in town working to clear snow from roads since 6:00 PM Sunday,” the East Greenwich Emergency Management Agency (EMA) announced in a press release. “This will continue to be a challenging recovery for everyone. Please ensure you are prepared and check in on your neighbors who may need additional help.”
But snow removal wasn’t the only challenge. Downed power lines, especially on Frenchtown Road and Middle Road, were responsible for much of the lingering outages, and DPW crews worked closely with R.I. Energy to address these hazards. Residents were repeatedly warned to avoid downed lines and trees with wires, as even the ground nearby could be electrified. The town asked that such hazards be reported directly to the police department, not to police or fire for power outages, which should go to R.I. Energy.
Schools across Rhode Island faced significant disruptions. As reported by The Providence Journal, the blizzard, which began Sunday, led to the cancellation of all public schools statewide on Monday and Tuesday. Governor Dan McKee, speaking at a Tuesday press conference, emphasized that decisions about reopening would be made on a community-by-community basis for Wednesday, February 25. As of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Providence Schools had already announced a distance learning day for Wednesday. The list of closures for Wednesday included dozens of districts, among them East Greenwich, Barrington, Bristol-Warren, Cranston, and Warwick.
Meanwhile, in Connecticut, the story was much the same. The blizzard battered the state with up to 22 inches of snow in some areas, accompanied by fierce winds that made travel treacherous. According to CT Insider, Governor Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban for commercial vehicles, which was lifted at 5 p.m. Monday. The National Weather Service had issued a blizzard warning for the entire state, with the advisory expiring Monday evening in the southern half and Litchfield County, and at 7 a.m. Tuesday for Hartford, Tolland, and Windham counties.
Thousands of Connecticut residents lost power, and utility companies cautioned that full restoration could take days. The storm forced the closure of dozens of schools and most government offices on Monday. By Tuesday, a long list of elementary, middle, and high schools remained closed, including major districts like Bridgeport, Hartford, Stamford, and New Haven. Colleges such as Central Connecticut State University, CT State Community College campuses, Eastern Connecticut State University, and the University of Connecticut also shuttered for the day.
Back in East Greenwich, the town’s recovery plan was methodical and community-focused. The immediate priorities, as outlined by the EMA, were to ensure that police and fire could respond to emergencies without needing plow escorts and to work with R.I. Energy to clear downed trees and restore power—especially in the hardest-hit areas. The town also set up an emergency warming center at the East Greenwich Police Department, open 24/7 from Sunday evening through at least Monday morning, with the option to extend as needed. Rhode Island, more broadly, had several warming centers and shelters available for those in need.
Trash and recycling collection in East Greenwich was suspended for the week, with normal service scheduled to resume on Monday, March 2. Residents were asked to keep bins off the curb to aid snow-clearing efforts. The travel ban for the town was lifted at noon on Tuesday, but officials urged residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. A parking ban remained in effect, and vehicles parked on public streets risked being towed. Municipal lots were opened for residential parking during the cleanup, but residents were encouraged to check the town’s website daily for updates on when cars would need to be moved for plowing.
Throughout both Rhode Island and Connecticut, the storm’s aftermath revealed the importance of community resilience and neighborly support. Local pizza shops like Supreme Pizza in East Greenwich stepped up, delivering food to DPW, police, and fire crews working long hours. Residents broke out shovels and snowblowers, not just for their own driveways, but to help neighbors dig out as well. The DPW’s goal was to finish clearing every street by Tuesday evening, before sending crews home for a much-needed rest, then returning to widen roadways in the days ahead.
Officials also issued reminders about carbon monoxide safety, as the East Greenwich Fire Department responded to several emergencies caused by snow-blocked exhaust vents. Residents were urged to clear vents and check on vulnerable neighbors, underscoring the communal nature of the recovery.
With cleanup work expected to last several days, patience and cooperation were the watchwords. “This is a team effort involving DPW, Police, Fire, and EMA. We anticipate this cleanup work will take us several days. Our priority continues to be getting roads passable for emergency vehicles,” the EMA stated. Residents were encouraged to sign up for the town’s CodeRED system to receive updates on parking bans, trash collection, and other public safety announcements.
While the blizzard of February 2026 brought hardship and disruption, it also showcased the determination and solidarity of New England communities. From the relentless work of public crews to the small acts of kindness among neighbors, the response to the storm proved that even in the face of nature’s fury, resilience and cooperation can keep a town moving forward.