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The Nauset Management board is clear. On the general board, Orleans is showing 16 and Eastham 4.

I’ve been overrun with ID requests and in the short term, suffice to say that the properties 8, 9, and 111 were the last straggles and just came back online. I will circle back with numbers shortly. Having just taken a run down to 8, 9 and 111 to confirm interior conditions, I’m pleased to report that we bottomed out at 56 from 70 over the course of almost 24 hours. Each of these homes square off unobstructed with the Atlantic from a distance of approximately 300 yards if that lends any comfort to those with property in calmer locals.

At 3 p.m. there was an uptick in utility repair activity up and down Barley Neck Rd so each property on or on a side street off of Barley Neck will move to the front of the line for the next round of follow ups.

To be clear on how that status has been tallied thus far, all but a dozen or so properties that are not clearly visible from a connecting street have been observed as having power which is to say a light on by design. The same notes have been made for those treks requiring Sherpa subcontractors and in two cases where connecting roads are and remain completely impassable, we’re relying on information from wi-fi enabled thermostats. In both of these cases, the owners have been contacted directly.

Next hurdle: Aside from the Prius bumper car show at Friends or the wagon train of voyeurs in search of any old carnage, surplus snow is now the front line issue. Secondary roads such as Briar Springs in Orleans or Great Pond in Eastham remain glorified single lanes prohibiting the ability to park and hike in. Virtually every home and business that has not been plowed is adorned with plow berms and drifts in excess of 4’. What I’ve come to call thirdary roads, wrapped around customized adjectives, are private and primarily dirt roads that have become increasingly difficult to traverse given failed and abandoned attempts, ongoing drifting and blowing snow and of course the continual plowing efforts of connecting streets. Short of the highway, virtually every road surface remains covered with packed snow running anywhere from an inch to 6” which is one of the leading factors for yet another school cancellation.

Unless you have a plow contractor scheduled, I would seriously consider passing on a shotgun trip to the Cape until the private contractors have had the opportunity to fulfill their municipal duties, delayed by the prolonged wind, and get caught up on private accounts. I’ve had several requests and will endeavor to accommodate those but with the advent of Xbox and Hot Pockets there is a proportionate decline in neighborhood kids armed with shovels and work ethic. As a consumer tip, it hasn’t taken long for the price gouging to begin so buyer beware.

As we proceed here, the wrap up will be fluid to say the least and at this stage I believe the general game plan will be to take what the plows give and key on areas that are being or have been cut out. Tomorrow shows a steady diet of clear skies and the brief round of sun we saw today had a small yet noticeable impact. Friday calls for temperatures in the low 40’s with a 90% chance of rain which won’t clear plow berms and driveways but should knock them down to a navigable height.

I will plan on an update tomorrow afternoon and will most certainly reach out to owners directly as we tighten the loop here. I greatly appreciate the calm, patience and most certainly the trust even from the handful of you that gasped over the prospect of dialing the heat up to 70!

Almost there…