Officials prepare for another nor'easter expected to pummel Wareham
One week after a nor’easter hit Wareham with strong winds bringing extensive damage, another storm is heading toward the town, with several feet of snow in the forecast.
The snow is expected to begin falling after midnight on Tuesday and to continue all day, according to the National Weather Service. Two feet of snow are possible and wind gusts could be as high as 55 mph. Ahead of the storm, the Wareham Board of Selectmen has postponed its Tuesday meeting to Thursday. Wareham Police are advising residents to remain off the roads as much as possible to give sanders and plows space.
The Wareham Fire Department is calling in extra firefighters in anticipation of the storm. More staff will be coming in at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, said Interim Fire Chief Pat Haskell.
“The storm is supposed to get really cranking good at 7 a.m. [on Tuesday],” Haskell said. “That’s when the worst will descend.”
Though things could get ugly, the snow will likely not be heavy and wet, Haskell said, making it easier to deal with.
“It looks, at this point, like it will be a fluffier snow,” he said.
Onset Fire Department Chief Ray Goodwin said the latest information he has, weather-wise, also called for light snow.
“We’re optimistic that the snow will be light, not wet and heavy, which could lead to power outages,” said Goodwin.
In preparation, Goodwin said he has already met with the department heads of various town agencies and firefighters are running through a pre-storm checklist.
“We’re taking all of our usual storm preparation steps,” said Goodwin, which include double checking generators and performing equipment checks.
Haskell urged people to make sure their carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are operating properly ahead of the storm and to stay off the roads during hazardous weather.
“Now’s the time to prepare,” he said. “Get it done, get it over with, get yourself situation so tomorrow you can be hunkered down and not have to go anywhere.”
Generator safety is especially important to keep in mind, Haskell said. Portable generators can be risky if not properly used, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shock and fire hazards.
Generators should be operated in well-ventilated locations outdoors away from doors, windows and vent openings. Turn off generators and let them cool down before refueling. Store fuel in a container that is correctly labeled and intended for that purpose.
Southcoast Health suggested making sure to have an emergency food supply before the storm hits.
“It is important to stock up on nutritious foods that will not spoil without refrigeration,” said Stacy Medeiros, registered dietitian with Southcoast Health. “Healthy eating is important even in an emergency.”
Medeiros recommended bottled water, low-sodium prepared foods, dried, canned and fresh fruit, cured meats, non-perishable milk and juice, high-energy foods and more than a week’s supply of necessary medicines.
She also suggested picking up extra batteries and flashlights, a solar charger for cell phones and a battery-operated radio.
Check back at WarehamVillageSoup.com for coverage during the storm and send your storm photos to editor@warehamweek.com.