Hurricane Sandy ramps up, Wareham's town shelter open
Wareham is now feeling the early effects of Hurricane Sandy, and the storm is expected to ramp up throughout Monday and into Tuesday.
Coastal flood and high-wind warnings are in effect until Tuesday afternoon.
Among the biggest concerns is Monday's evening high tide, which will be higher than normal due to the full moon.
National Weather Service forecasters called the threat for coastal flooding the "most serious" in years for portions of the South Coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Wareham officials are paying special attention to low-lying areas in anticipation of coastal flooding.
Wareham Fire will have equipment and people staged throughout town, "so that we have staffing into those [low-lying] areas that could become 'islands'" due to flooding, Chief Robert McDuffy explained.
Onset Fire Chief Howard Andersen said his department is doing the same.
"I anticipate seeing water in a few of the streets" in Onset, Andersen said.
Power outages due to the high winds are expected. (See below for tips.)
As the storm edged closer to the region on Sunday, Wareham's public safety officials said they're fully prepared to take on all storm-related issues.
The Board of Selectmen has declared a state of emergency, which will be in effect until noon on Wednesday, October 31.
"I am urging that all Wareham residents curtail all unnecessary travel and avoid all downed lines during the declaration period," Selectmen Chair Steve Holmes wrote his declaration, which will allow the town to get state and federal assistance for expenses incurred during the storm.
The "public safety personnel are up to the task," Police Chief Richard Stanley stressed at an emergency meeting of officials on Sunday evening.
All of the town's police officers are on standby, meaning they can be called to work whenever they are needed, explained Lt. Kevin Walsh. The department is steadily increasing its staff in the hours leading up to the storm.
No evacuation orders have been issued for any area in Wareham.
The Wareham Multi-Service Center, located at 48 Marion Road (across the parking lot from Town Hall) is currently operating as a shelter for residents who need it. The following is a list of things you need if you decide to head to the shelter. No pets are allowed.
1. Blankets, pillows, and sleeping bags
2. Any medications you may need
3. Personal hygiene items
4. Baby formula, diapers, etc.
5. Anything else that you may need to sustain your health
"Err on the side of caution," Stanley advised residents. "It'll make the jobs of public safety personnel that much easier."
Residents can dial 211 for hurricane information. The Wareham Police Department has asked residents only to dial 911 in the event of an emergency.
"We urge the public to use the emergency 911 system for emergencies only, so that priority situations are handled in the appropriate manner and speed," police advised, adding: "During this storm, the Wareham Police Department urges citizens to take great care, and to travel on the roadways only when necessary for safety reasons."
Wareham Public Schools and Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School closed for Monday.
For more information about the forecast, click here for the National Weather Service's Hazardous Weather Outlook.
NSTAR has notified public safety officials of residents who depend on electricity for medical needs, and officials will be checking on those residents throughout the storm. If you are unsure whether officials know about your or a loved one's situation, call NSTAR a 1-800-592-2000 or Wareham Police at 508-295-1212.
Preparation tips
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency issued the following tips to help residents prepare.
- Make sure you have a well-stocked "Family Disaster Kit" in the event you lose power or are isolated for a number of days. (Download a checklist below!)
- Trim back trees and shrubbery around your home. Remove diseased or damaged tree limbs that could be blown down, causing damage, during a storm.
- Clear clogged rain gutters. This storm brings the potential for torrential rain. Providing clear drainage will help prevent misdirected flooding.
- Bring in outdoor items such as lawn furniture, trash barrels, hanging plants, toys and awnings that can be broken or picked up by strong winds and used as a missile.
- Make sure storage sheds, children’s playhouses, or other outbuildings are securely anchored, either to a permanent foundation or with straps and ground anchors.
- Elevate articles in your basement that could be damaged from even minor flooding.
- Make temporary plywood covers to protect windows and sliding doors. Drill holes for screws or lag bolts in each cover and around each window. Note: Taping of windows does not prevent them from breaking.
- Keep your vehicles fully fueled.
- Have a certain amount of cash available. If power is lost, ATMs may not be working.
- Make a record of your personal property. Keep an itemized list of your furniture, clothing and valuables to assist adjusters in case of a claim. Back it up with photographs or video.
- Protect your insurance policies and other important documents in a secure place like a safe deposit box or a watertight box. Many people back up important documents online.
- Learn where gas pilots and water mains are located, and how to safely shut off all utilities.
- Lock doors and windows to ensure that they are closed tight to help protect against strong winds and rain.
- Download the free ping4alert! app to your Smartphone to receive important weather alerts and messages from MEMA. Easy instructions are available at www.mass.gov/mema/mobileapp.
- Report your outage immediately to your local electric company. Don't rely on your neighbors to report your outage.
- Stay away from downed power lines, flooded areas, and debris. Treat all fallen wires and anything touching them as though they are energized. Immediately report downed lines to your local electric company.
- Turn off all appliances, including your furnace, air conditioner, water heater, and water pump. Leave on one lamp to know when power has been restored. That way, you can avoid a circuit overload and another outage that may result when power is restored to all appliances at once.
- Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed. Food will stay frozen for 36 to 48 hours in a fully-loaded freezer if you keep the door closed. A half-full freezer will generally keep food frozen for 24 hours. For refrigerated items, pack milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy, and spoilable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice. Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers are fine for this purpose.
- Follow safe-operating procedures for generators. Never operate one inside your home or in an enclosed space, such as a garage.
- Listen to a local radio station on your battery-operated radio for regular news and weather updates.
- If using portable stoves, kerosene heaters, or lanterns, make sure that the area is sufficiently ventilated.
- If you must travel, please help protect line workers and crews when you see them on the roadside making emergency repairs. Move over from the lane nearest the workers or slow down until you can safely pass the work site.
- In cold weather, open your blinds during the day, cover windows with drapes at night, avoid alcoholic beverages, and gather in a central room where there is an alternative heat source, such as a fireplace or kerosene space heater. If the indoor temperature drops to 55°F or below, open your faucets slightly so they constantly drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
Stay with WarehamVillageSoup.com. We'll have updates from local authorities as information becomes available.
Need preparation checklists? Click the links below to print them out!
