National Guard helps Berlin post blustery blizzard
WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. — Worcester County is dealing with significant snowfall, but thanks to the hard work of Town of Berlin employees and support from the National Guard, which was called in by Mayor Zack Tyndall on Sunday evening the town is recovering well.
Berlin workers shoveled snow from Sunday evening until 2 a.m. Monday but had to pause due to worsening storm conditions.
“We just pulled everybody off for a couple of hours to let the worst of the storm pass by. Then we were right back at it around 4 a.m. Our crews have worked nonstop,” Tyndall said.
During the brief break, Tyndall made the call for backup.
“When conditions started to deteriorate, I called for help. But it was so bad, they couldn’t even get to Berlin until midafternoon yesterday. The teams have been here since, assisting,” Tyndall said.
He added that Berlin has not experienced damage like this in the past, even with hurricanes. “To see this kind of destruction from a winter storm really puts things in perspective. We’ve got downed trees, power lines, debris, and snow interrupting traffic flow. Our downtown business district should open within the next couple of hours, and we’ll start working on residential areas next.”
Chauncey Rhodes, general manager of Viking Tree Trading Center, praised the efforts of the snowplow teams and the National Guard.
“The Berlin snowplows were out all night, and the streets were in great shape the next day. This morning, the sidewalks were impassable, but now they’re clear. The work they’ve done is impressive and really helps us,” Rhodes said. “The storm was intense. I measured 18 inches in a few places in Berlin, but the fact that Main Street and the sidewalks are clear is incredible. Thanks, Berlin.”
Tyndall reported that Berlin was without power for 19 hours, but he is working to restore it to outlying areas.
“We’re working with the state’s Emergency Management office to get power restored. They’ve told us some areas may not have power until tomorrow, but we’re trying to make sure those customers are covered through a mutual aid agreement,” Tyndall said.
For residents still without power, a local hotel is offering support.
Camille Passalacqua, general manager of Tru by Hilton, said the hotel lowered its rates to help displaced residents.
“It’s a hardship, so we decided to lower our rates to help people find shelter, especially those with children or pets who need a warm place to stay,” Passalacqua said.
Ocean View resident Mackenzie, without power for three days, expressed her gratitude for the hotel’s support.
“As a single mom, I couldn’t afford to pay for several nights, so this is a real blessing,” she said. “The hotel is nice, and it’s affordable. We love it.”
Mackenzie described the conditions in Ocean View: “The snow looked like big golf balls. Trees are down everywhere, power lines are out, and roads are blocked. We had to shovel out our driveway, which was tough around the cars, but the snow was soft and flowy, so it wasn’t terrible. The wind was the worst part. We could feel it through the windows and doors, even though everything was locked. It made the house so much colder.”
For those still without power, Tru by Hilton is offering a nightly rate of $59 until service is restored. To receive the discounted rate, call the hotel at 410-520-4545 ext. 0 and mention code Blizzard2026.
