In Massachusetts two horse have died after snow forced the collapse of sheetmetal rooding on a barn roof. Last week Friday morning’s collapse sparked a rescue effort that resulted in the surviving horses being freed. The incident unfolded at a family-owned ranch in Westford, 35 miles northwest of Boston. One horse freed itself from the twisted debris, while four were dug out by volunteers and emergency personnel in a rescue effort that continued until 3.30pm. A veterinarian crawled into the damaged building to sedate the horses, while fire personnel directed heat into the collapsed structure to help keep them more comfortable. The barn was open to a herd of horses that could use it for shelter as they saw fit. The incident was among a raft of full or partial roof collapses in the northeast and mid-central United States resulting from record snow falls. Massachusetts alone reported more than 100 incidents in which roofs collapsed to some degree. Boston has received up to eight feet of snow in the storms. The snow has resulted in widespread disruption across several states and presented serious challenges to farmers.
