WORCESTER, Mass. - Decked out in his patriots gear, Paul Dennis is no stranger to the snow. 

"We're just dealing with it," Dennis said. "Mother Nature at its best."

In typical New England fashion, Dennis said he was out riding his bike the day before the storm hit. Now, he's shoveling his driveway.

'It is what it is. It's not too bad," Dennis said. "Some of these snow storms when the wind is blowing, that's tough."

Dennis said he doesn't mind the snow and welcomes the first big storm of the winter.  "It's scenic right now," Dennis said. 

Department of Public Works crews started plowing after the first inch of snow fell. They cleaned up roads, sidewalks and stairways around the city. Other crews, started at 5:30 a.m. and said the timing of the snow made their job even harder.  

What You Need To Know

  • Worcester welcomed the first big snow storm of the winter Friday
  • Some residents who were out shoveling didn't mind the snow 
  • Plow drivers said the timing of the storm made their job more difficult because more people were on the roads
  • Worcester DPW was down about 10% of its staff due to COVID-related issues

"Everyone is getting out there trying to get to work and we are trying to do out job," Josh Weston said. "It's just a whole bunch of stuff all blended into one massive headache."

Weston has been plowing for seven years and Worcester's hills and narrow roads are tough for his plow to navigate, especially with other cards on the road.

"Once we start sliding, we don't want to hit anyone's cars," Weston said. "Unfortunately, sometimes that happens. It's not our fault. We really try to avoid that, but sometimes gravity and trucks and wet icy roads, there's nothing we can do."

Weston said he expects to be out into the night working on clean up. Worcester's DPW commissioner, Jay Fink, said they are down about 10% of their staff due to COVID-related issues.