Warwick residents rally to support city workers as winter storm nears
WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) — As a massive winter storm bears down on the Northeast, residents in Warwick are uniting to ensure both their households and the city’s front-line workers are prepared for the impact.
Forecasters are predicting the largest winter event to hit Rhode Island in years, with some weather models projecting up to two feet of snow.
While some locals remain skeptical of the high totals, city and state employees are preparing for a long weekend.
"We're all getting called in," said Pat O’Toole, a lead mechanic for the city. "Every department is coming on Sunday morning. We're going to ride out the storm as long as it takes."
O’Toole is tasked with ensuring Warwick’s fleet of snowplows remains operational throughout the duration of the storm.
"The secret is you don't look at the clock," O'Toole said. "Whether it's 3 a.m. or 3 p.m., you just keep going."
Recognizing that crews could be on the road for well over a day, Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi turned to social media on Friday to ask for the community's help.
He noted that by Sunday night, most businesses would be closed, leaving drivers with few options if they ran out of supplies.
The response from the community was immediate.
"We had dozens, if not close to 100 people coming in and dropping food off, dropping water bottles," O’Toole said.
Picozzi attributed the outpouring of donations to the "morale" and "togetherness" of the city.
The preparation extended to local businesses, where parking lots at retailers like Dave's Marketplace were jam-packed Friday afternoon.
Residents braved the crowds to stock up on staples like milk, juice, and meat, as well as "comfort foods" like soup and pizza.
For the workers at the Department of Public Works, the community support provides a boost as they prepare for a grueling shift while others hunkered down at home.
"It means a lot to see how many folks actually appreciate what we do," O’Toole said. "We’re not here to be famous...but to see people sincerely grateful for what we do, it really helps."
While many residents plan to spend Sunday watching the New England Patriots, Warwick's plow crews will be manning the streets, backed by a break room filled with community-donated snacks.
