Hamden works hard to remove snow

HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- A week after the blizzard the town of Hamden is still cleaning up. Hamden got hit the hardest, with some areas burried in 40 inches of snow.

They say they're working 12 hour shifts since the storm happened even with the help of the National guard.

Moving 40 inches of snow on an entire town sits on the shoulders of Joe Colello and it's been sitting there since Friday.

"We can't believe the clean up is still going on. We can't believe how much snow we got," said Colello, Superintendent of Hamden Streets.

He says even with 35 front loaders, 30 dump trucks, and 3 National Guard teams, they still have a lot of work to do.

"There's no gray area. They're even loving us or they're hating us. However, they have to know that we're doing our absolute best for ya and that's the God's honest truth," said Colello.

"I'm one of the rare folks that get it. You know, it's a process. I mean, where are you going to put the snow," said Leonard Webb a Hamden resident.

A shut down middle school is being put to good use, where snow hills sit and continue to grow.

There are walls of snow nearly 20 feet high and that is only 1 of 10 dumping sites around the city.

"We have veterans that told us the storm of '78 didn't have anything on this storm. I think everyone collectively did an excellent job," said Colello.

Driving around Hamden he says all the roads are passable, but all the lanes are not open. That's why widening streets is their primary focus.

"We have to do that for drainage. We have to get to the catch basins when it starts melting to prevent flooding and refreezing so there's no accidents," said Colello.