Stonington — Faced with having to clear more than two feet of snow from town roads and seeing another heavy batch of snow falling this afternoon, the town requested and received help from the Connecticut National Guard.

First Selectman George Crouse said 14 Guardsmen and officers stationed in Niantic have been sent to the town along with heavy equipment to help with removing snow from the roads. Crouse said they will not be plowing but will be given assignments to remove snow and truck it away. The state is allowing the town to dump snow in rivers and the ocean, something that is typically prohibited.

He said they will start work in Pawcatuck and also concentrate on removing snow from the school parking lots after equipment used by subcontractors broke down today.

Crouse said the town is behind schedule in clearing the school lots but he said the National Guard assistance will help in getting them cleared so schools can reopen on Thursday.

Crouse called the work of the town’s Highway Department “heroic,” saying employees have been working for 48 hours with short breaks for naps. One highway plow had to help an ambulance get through snow drifts this afternoon to reach a patient, he said.

“I’ll have to have a Highway Department Day or a luncheon for them,” he said.

Crouse said the town expects to spend between $75,000 to $100,000 on this storm, about half of the $200,000 left in the budget for snow removal this winter.

Crouse said he hopes the town can obtain some federal disaster aid to help offset the costs.