Mass. Governor Declares Emergency as Precaution

BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick says he has declared a state of
emergency in Massachusetts and mobilized the National Guard as a
precautionary measure after a snowstorm turned out to be "totally
different" from what was expected.

Patrick said early Wednesday afternoon that temperatures in
eastern portions of the state were higher than anticipated, making
the snow heavier and wetter, which caused more power outages. He
said more than 100,000 homes and business were without electricity
at noon.

In western areas of the state, the snow was more powdery, but
more than was originally forecast is expected to fall - perhaps as
much as 30 inches.

Patrick says a few shelters have opened, but so far no one has
checked in.

He says there were no major accidents on the state's highways
because people heeded warnings not to drive.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Copyright NECNMIGR - NECN
Contact Us