Updated Wednesday, Jan. 28
U-Haul expanded the regions of the Northeast that can take advantage of 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box container use on Wednesday, offering the deal to residents of six additional states whose homes or possessions were damaged by Winter Storm Juno.
The U-Haul Companies of Boston, Connecticut, Eastern Mass, New Hampshire and Maine, Rhode Island, and Western Mass and Vermont were added to the list, joining the U-Haul Company of Long Island.
“From the beginning, we anticipated the storm and our local teams carried out a store management plan to operate through the storm and be ready to go when the storm was over, helping citizens with propane, self-storage and anything else they need,” U-Haul Area District Vice President Levi Parmerter said.
“The 30 days of free storage we’re offering ties into that. U-Haul wants to help.”
U-Haul stores have supplies available to help with storm recovery, such as boxes, tarps, propane and propane tanks. U-Haul urges customers to make sure their propane tanks are full since propane is an effective source of heat in the event of long-term power outages.
Tuesday, Jan. 27
U-Haul is closely following the impact of Juno and extending a helping hand to the public as snow builds in the Northeast.
U-Haul issued a statement on Tuesday offering 30 days of free storage to Long Island residents whose homes or possessions were damaged in the blizzard.
While New York City has avoided the brunt of the storm, Long Island has received more than two feet of snow in certain areas. Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which implemented travel restrictions on Monday and Tuesday, were hit hard along with other New England states.
“We’re first responders,” U-Haul Area District Vice President Nick Marra said. “People, if they have any damage done to their home, they’re going to need to store their items.
“We sell propane. If they need to heat their homes and their power goes out, we do have propane. The sooner we can get out there and can pump propane for them, the better.”
U-Haul remains in constant communication with its representatives in the Northeast and is prepared to assist other areas.
Mike Nadraus, Marketing Company President for U-Haul Company of Long Island, said he spent 90 minutes on Tuesday morning shoveling two feet of snow out of his driveway.
“We shut stores (Monday) about 3 p.m. and right now, snow is still coming down,” Nadraus said. “It should stop soon. Then the snow plows will actually get out and start plowing streets and stores.
“Our store should be cleaned probably this evening or, worst case, Wednesday morning. We should be back to normal operations by Wednesday morning – almost every store. … It should be business as usual at 7 a.m.”
Juno struck on Monday night, dumping one to two feet of snow in several states and blitzing densely populated areas such as Long Island and Boston. Frigid wind gusts in excess of 70 mph were recorded in Massachusetts.
More than 7,700 flights were cancelled by Monday in the Northeast, according to the Associated Press, while numerous businesses and schools – and some forms of public transportation – shut down. New York City and New Jersey lifted their driving bans and resumed public transportation on Tuesday, the AP stated.
U-Haul, the industry leader in do-it-yourself moving and self-storage, makes it a priority to assist communities in difficult times through the use of free storage and other services when natural disasters occur.
U-Haul and its Team Members aim to be an integral part of every community they serve, striving to go beyond the duty of a responsible business and fulfill the role of caring neighbors.