Gov. Patrick Encourages Patience With Slow-moving Storm

BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick says a slow-moving winter storm hit Massachusetts harder than anticipated but he's satisfied with the state's response so far.

Patrick described the Friday morning commute as a "mess" with a number of spinouts and jackknifed trailer trucks on state highways.

The governor says a number of roads and homes have been flooded along the coast.

Secretary of Environmental and Energy Affairs Richard Sullivan said fewer than 7500 residents were without power as of midday, down from a high of nearly 10,000 earlier in the day.

Patrick says fewer than a dozen people have gone to emergency shelters.

The governor has decided not to order an early release of state employees. He says the afternoon commute should be better than the morning commute if people take their time and use public transportation if possible.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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