A short deep freeze hit the Island Saturday, part of the arctic blast that caused freezing temperatures across the northeast.
Temperatures on the Vineyard reached a low of minus five degrees and winds hit a high of 59 miles per hour, according to the weather service cooperative station in Edgartown. But officials said the cold snap was mostly manageable.
“There were not a ton of incidents, but there were enough,” said West Tisbury fire chief Greg Pachico,
His department responded to a few minor incidents this weekend, including a large tree that fell next to Polly Hill Arboretum on State Road. The tree pulled down power lines, blocked the road and caused a short blackout.
“Thank goodness it fell the way it did, otherwise the house that’s there would be there no more,” Mr. Pachico said.
The tree has now been moved off the road and the town is awaiting state officials to remove it.
Combined with a blackout in the Indian Hill area, West Tisbury emergency management director Russell Hartenstine estimated that roughly 500 people lost power for around five hours. Areas of Aquinnah also lost power on Saturday.
Given the weather conditions, 10 people checked into Harbor Homes’ winter shelter Friday and stayed through Sunday.
Though incidents from the freeze were mostly minor, the cold weather appears to be connected to one death. A 92-year-old woman in Oak Bluffs was found dead outside her home by a relative on Saturday after spending an unknown length of time outside, according to state police.
Police have not identified the woman and an investigation into her death is ongoing.
The harsh weather caused disruptions for the Steamship Authority’s service Sunday morning. Pipes burst on the ferries Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, taking them out of service for several hours. The ferry Katama was also down after a hydraulic leak on Sunday. It went back on the Vineyard route Sunday afternoon.
Freezing pipes were also an issue back on dry land, where Island plumbers sprinted to keep up with a slew of house calls.
Allyson Kylie, a receptionist with Fullin and Bettencourt Plumbing and Heating, said they responded to more 30 calls this weekend.
“The calls have been coming in all morning,” Ms. Kylie said on Monday.
Alan Fortes, of Fortes Plumbing and Heating, said his customers were mostly well prepared for the freeze.
“I think people have learned over the years,” he said, noting that mechanics and builders are now better adapted to New England conditions.
Michael Silvia, Oak Bluffs water supervisor, also had a busy weekend, responding to at least a dozen calls ranging from water shutoffs to frozen meters. Edgartown water supervisor Bill Chapman said his department had about six calls.
“It was a busy weekend, but we kind of expected it,” he said.
Mr. Silvia had a crew out on the street Monday looking to head off any issues, since thawing waters will make any pipe breakages from the freeze more obvious.
The supervisors both urged seasonal residents to have a caretaker check in, and asked for people who are on-Island to check on their neighbors’ homes.
“If no one’s there, we’re not going to find it,” Mr. Silvia said. “It could be completely ruined by the time we get there.”
Louisa Hufstader contributed to this story.
