Official Emergency Information Release

MEMA OFFERS TIPS TO AS HURRICANE EARL APPROACHES

FRAMINGHAM, MA – As Hurricane Earl approaches, The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) recommends a number of steps people can take to help minimize potential damage.

“Early planning and preparation can be the key to your safety,” states MEMA Acting Director Kurt Schwartz. “It is important to use your time wisely and not wait until the last minute.”

Here are some examples of steps you should be taking:

• Trim back trees and shrubbery around your home trimmed. Remove diseased or damaged tree limbs that could be blown down, causing damage, during a storm.
• Clear clogged rain gutters. Hurricanes/tropical storms often bring torrential rain. Providing clear drainage will help prevent misdirected flooding.
• Bring in outdoor items to bring inside 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 you vehicles fully fuelled.
• 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.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Hurricane Preparedness, go to www.mass.gov/mema. Follow MEMA updates on Facebook and Twitter.

SWIMMERS & BOATERS URGED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS
Rough Surf and Riptides Produce Potentially Hazardous Conditions

FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) cautions swimmers and boaters to stay aware of increasingly high surf and riptides over the remainder of the week. The remnants of Hurricane Danielle and the leading edge of Hurricane Earl continue to produce potentially dangerous conditions over our entire coastline.

MEMA offers these tips for those around the water, particularly swimmers and boaters. These water safety tips should always be followed, even if it is not the hurricane season.

Swimmers:
• Always check surf conditions.
• Swimmers should never swim alone, preferably on beaches with lifeguards. If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.
• Always be aware of the dangers of rip currents. Remember to never swim against the current, but parallel to the beach to an area where the current is weaker and you can safely return to shore.
• Never turn your back to the ocean, as you may be swept off coastal bluffs or tide pool areas and into the water by waves that can come without warning.
• Be careful standing on seawalls while watching the surf.

Boaters
• Boaters should continually obtain the latest available weather forecast for your boating area and adhere to U.S. Coast Guard and Harbor Master warnings and directives.
• Identify hurricane holes and safe harbors in the area in case you are caught at sea.
• Boat owners should assemble emergency equipment and supplies, as well as all of the necessary gear on board to properly tie down their vessel.
• Realize that you may not be able to pull your boat out of the water. Precious time is lost if you are searching for gear as a storm approaches.
• Have a plan worked out with your marina operator so there are no questions or confusion when the time comes to tie up or pull your boat from the water.
• Insure your vessel is as watertight as possible. Use duct tape and plugs to seal hatches, ports, windows, doors and vents.
• Remove all electronics, valuables and non-essential items.
• Have your insurance policies, boat registration, a recent photograph and description of the vessel, gear inventory, marina or storage lease agreement and important telephone numbers (local harbormaster, U.S. Coast Guard, National Weather Service, insurance agent) in a secure place off of the boat.
• When you are through, help your neighbor. It only takes one poorly tied boat in a marina to destroy an entire dock.
• Do not stay on the boat.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Hurricanes, go to www.mass.gov/mema. Also, follow MEMA updates on Facebook and Twitter.

MEMA ISSUES HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS FOR BOAT OWNERS

FRAMINGHAM, MA – “As you are a boat owner, you know that preparing your boat for a hurricane is just as important as preparing your home,” said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Acting Director Kurt Schwartz. “MEMA has some important safety tips for boat owners as they prepare for the hurricane season.”

• During the Hurricane Season, boaters should continually obtain the latest available weather forecast for your boating area.
• Have a plan worked out with your marina operator so there are no questions or confusion when the time comes to tie up or pull your boat from the water.
• Identify hurricane holes and safe harbors in the area in case you are caught at sea.
• Realize that you may not be able to pull your boat out of the water. Precious time is lost if you are searching for gear as a storm approaches.
• Boat owners should assemble emergency equipment and supplies, as well as all of the necessary gear on board to properly tie down their vessel.
• Insure your vessel is as watertight as possible. Use duct tape and plugs to seal hatches, ports, windows, doors and vents.
  
• Remove all electronics, valuables and non-essential items.
  
• Have your insurance policies, boat registration, a recent photograph and description of the vessel, gear inventory, marina or storage lease agreement and important telephone numbers (local harbormaster, U.S. Coast Guard, National Weather Service, insurance agent) in a secure place off of the boat.
  
• When you are through, help your neighbor. It only takes one poorly tied boat in a marina to destroy an entire dock.
  
• Do not stay on the boat.
  

MEMA ISSUES HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

• Review your property insurance with your insurance agent. Take photographs or make a video of your business establishment, both inside and outside. 
• Determine and establish a written Hurricane Preparedness Plan for your business and its contents. Coordinate this plan with local and state officials.  Specify the conditions under which the plan will be implemented.
• Test your plan, reviewing it annually. Establish an employee-training program on your Hurricane Plan.
• Make plans for protection of your computer files, including an off-site back-up system to secure and safely store data.
• Protect corporate records, keeping duplicates at an alternate location.
• Well in advance, acquire emergency protective equipment and supplies. Heavy plastic sheeting, duct tape, sandbags, emergency generator, chain saw and large pieces of plywood will help protect your property.
• As storms approach, remember to bring in display racks and other objects, such as trashcans that might cause damage if airborne.  Remove outdoor signs, especially those that swing or are portable.
• Move merchandise, equipment or furniture away from windows or skylights. Elevate boxes or equipment, if possible.
• Turn off electricity and disconnect all electrical appliances and equipment (except for refrigeration equipment), in case there is a power outage.  An ensuing power surge, once power is restored, could be damaging to connected equipment.
• Inform all employees on when and how you will notify them to report back to work.
• Develop an employee identification system, such as picture ID badges. This may help employees gain access to the area after a hurricane.
• If possible, make arrangements to pay employees in cash.  It may be several days before banking institutions are operational.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Hurricane Preparedness, go to www.mass.gov/mema.  Follow MEMA updates on Facebook and Twitter.

ENSURE THE SAFETY OF YOUR PETS DURING A HURRICANE

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Taking your pets along is the most important thing individuals or families can do for their animals during a hurricane evacuation.   Pets left behind can be injured, lost or killed during a storm, or in its aftermath.   Pet owners should include their animals in their Family Hurricane Planning, before a storm threatens.
“Sometimes the family pet can be overlooked until the final moments before you and your family are about to evacuate,” states Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Acting Director Kurt Schwartz. “Take the time now to develop a plan and assemble your pet’s Disaster Kit to ensure your animal’s safety and care if you are asked to evacuate.”
When you go, they go!

• Historically, only service animals are allowed inside public mass care shelters, although SMART (The State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team) now assists at many of these facilities with animal sheltering accommodations.
• Make plans ahead of time to take your pet to stay at relatives, friends or a kennel outside the affected area.
• Know the locations of pet-friendly hotels and motels.
• Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency; include 24-hour phone numbers.
• Consult with your local animal control officer and Emergency Management office about possible temporary shelter facilities in your community.
• Ask local animal shelters if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets in a disaster. Animal shelters may be overburdened caring for the animals they already have, as well as those displaced by a disaster, so this should be your last resort.
• Prepare an emergency kit for your pets; include collars & leashes, a 3-5 day supply of food and water, a manual can opener, bowls, litter boxes, photographs of you with your pet, and a week’s supply of medications that your pet may be taking, including instructions (in case you and your pet are separated).
• Have copies of your pets’ vaccinations, medical records and prescriptions in a clean plastic bag or waterproof container.
• Make sure your pets wear collars with current license and rabies tags, and identification tags that include information on where you will be staying during the emergency.
• Use a pet carrier for each of your pets to make transportation easier.
• Birds should be transported in a secure travel cage or carrier. During warm weather, carry a plant mister to spray the birds' feathers periodically. Do not put water inside the carrier during transport.
• Provide a few slices of fresh fruits and vegetables with high water content.
• Have a photograph for identification and leg bands.
• If the carrier does not have a perch, line it with paper towels and change them frequently. Try to keep the carrier in a quiet area. Do not let the birds out of the cage or carrier.
• Exotic or dangerous pets are generally dealt with on a case-by-case basis, to ensure that they are handled, transported and cared for by trained personnel at appropriate facilities.   To insure the safety of their animals, owners of this type of pet should have advanced planning preparations ready for their pet’s special needs.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Hurricane Preparedness, go to www.mass.gov/mema.  Follow MEMA updates on Facebook and Twitter.

HURRICANE CHALLENGES FOR PEOPLE REQUIRING ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE

FRAMINGHAM, MA - For many of the citizens in Massachusetts who have physical, medical, sensory or cognitive disabilities, as well as the elderly and others requiring additional assistance, emergencies such as hurricanes present real challenges. Therefore, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) offers a number of important steps to help ensure the safety of yourself and all of our friends, neighbors, and family members.

“MEMA has listed a number of tips, covering a variety of issues which those individuals who require additional assistance should consider, as they prepare for the hurricane season,” stated MEMA Acting Director Kurt Schwartz.  “This planning is important, not just in preparation for hurricanes, but year-round, for any type of emergency.”

• Create a ‘Personal Support Network’ or ‘Self-Help Team’. They can help you identify and acquire resources, as well as assist you before, during and after the hurricane has passed. Your Team should include roommates, relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers because disasters might strike at any time, when you are at home, school, the workplace, a volunteer site, or wherever you spend a lot of time.
• Complete a Personal Assessment of what you can do for yourself and what assistance you may need to respond to the challenges of a hurricane, based on the environment during and after the storm, your capabilities, and your limitations.
• Become informed.   From your local Emergency Management Director, learn your area’s vulnerabilities in a hurricane, as well as your community’s Emergency Management Plans, including potential evacuation routes and shelter locations.
• Find out about your community’s Alerting/Warning Systems.   Learn what methods are utilized in your community. They could include: outdoor sirens or horns, the Emergency Alert System (EAS) which provides information over the radio and television, the NOAA Weather Alert Radio, one of a number of automated telephoning system for sending recorded messages such as ‘All Call’, ‘Reverse 911’ or ‘Code Red’, commercial News Media, Residential Route Alerting, which dispatches Public Safety vehicles through neighborhoods announcing messages with public address systems or literally ‘knocking on doors’, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Broadcast, and Teletypewriters (TTY).
• Contact your local Emergency Management Director to learn of potential ‘Special Needs’ Notification, Transportation and/or Assistance Programs in your community.   Your specific information will be treated with confidentiality.
• Develop the standard Disaster Supply Kit for your home, with supplies to accommodate you for up to 3-5 days. Also, from that you can pull key items for a  ‘Portable Kit’ if asked to evacuate. Depending upon your needs, you may want to include extra eyeglasses, hearing aid batteries, wheel chair batteries, oxygen, the style and serial number of your medical devices, a list of your medications including dosage, a list of your allergies, medical insurance information and medical cards, and if you utilize a wheelchair include heavy gloves to help make your way over glass and debris.
• Make an Emergency Plan. As part of your overall planning, include a Family Communication Plan to best inform others of your condition and whereabouts.   If you receive regular services, make a plan with each provider about their disaster plans and how to contact them. Work with them to identify back-up services.
• Wear medical alert tags or bracelets to help identify your disability.
• Teach others on your Team to operate any special equipment you might utilize, as well as where you keep your emergency supplies.
• Label with your contact information any special equipment including wheel chairs, walkers or canes.
• If asked to evacuate, inform your Team where you are staying, because it may not always be the first choice in your Plan. (a public shelter, relative, friend, hotel)
• Find the location of the main utility cutoff valves and switches in your home, and how and when to safely disconnect them during an emergency, either by yourself or a Team member.
• Prepare an Emergency Kit for your service animal and pets; include collars & leashes, a three-day supply of food, a manual can opener, plenty of water, bowls, litter boxes, photographs, and a week’s supply of your pets’ medications and instructions in case you and your animals are separated.
• Service animals may become frightened or confused during or after a hurricane.   Be prepared to calm your animal and keep it confined or on a leash or harness. Make sure your service animal is familiar with your Team members, who may be asked to help care for them following the storm.
• Keep pictures of you with your pets or service animals for identification purposes, in case you are separated.
• In case your service animal is unable to assist you, be prepared to use alternative ways to negotiate your environment.
• Most people should be able to function well at a regular public shelter, although people with more serious needs might be directed to an ‘additional assistance’ shelter where medical issues can receive appropriate attention.
• When needed, be sure to ask for an accommodation from disaster personnel.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Hurricane Preparedness, go to www.mass.gov/mema . Also, follow MEMA on Facebook and Twitter.

SBA RESPONDS FAVORABLY TO GOVERNOR PATRICK’S CALL FOR AID

Low-Interest Federal Loans Are Available for Victims of July 10th Flashflood

BOSTON, MA – Governor Deval Patrick today lauded the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) decision to declare portions of eastern Middlesex County a disaster area and accepted federal disaster loans aimed at helping the residents and business owners impacted by the torrential downpour, which occurred on Saturday July 10, 2010.

SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills made the loans available in response to a request on July 23, 2010 from Acting Governor Timothy P. Murray, for an SBA disaster declaration.  The declaration covers Middlesex County and the adjacent counties of Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Worchester in Massachusetts and Hillsborough in New Hampshire.

All of the victims of the flooding can now apply for long-term, low-interest Physical Disaster Loans and Economic Recovery Loans to help replace uninsured property and business losses.  SBA officials will be available to meet at the Recovery Center:

Somerville High School
Atrium at the Fieldhouse
81 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA  02143 

Opens: Friday, July 30 from 9:00AM to 5:30PM
Open:  Saturday, July 31 from 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Closed: Sunday, August 1
Open: Monday, August 2 through Thursday August 5 from 9:00AM to 5:30PM
Closed: Thursday, August 5 at Close of Business

Following SBA Preliminary Disaster Assessments, it was estimated the damage exceeds the SBA’s criteria of at least 25 residents and/or businesses with uninsured losses of 40% or more of their estimated replacement value. Interest rates are as low as 2.750% for homeowners and renters, 3% for non-profit organizations and 4% for businesses with terms up to 30 years.  Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.   Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. For small businesses, and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.  EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Individuals unable to visit the Recovery Center in person may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 6:00PM EDT, or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov.  Completed applications should be returned to the Center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.  Those affected by the disaster may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is September 27, 2010. The deadline to return economic injury applications for business losses is March 27, 2011.

MEMA will continue to work with local authorities to provide support services and assistance throughout the loan application process.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Hurricanes, go to www.mass.gov/mema .  Also, follow MEMA updates on Facebook and Twitter.

CAPE COD EMERGENCY TRAFFIC PLAN

FRAMINGHAM, MA - The Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan (CCETP) has been developed to facilitate egress of the high volume of traffic from Cape Cod in the event of a hurricane, particularly during the peak tourist season.  Although developed for a hurricane scenario, this ‘All Hazards’ Plan has been designed to be utilized in a number of emergency situations.  This is not an Evacuation Plan.  The term ‘evacuation’ applies to the movement of a population from low-lying, flood-prone areas to higher, safer ground. Most residents would be safe in their homes or at local designated mass care shelters. Residents should learn from their local Emergency Management Director the particular hurricane risks for their area, finding out if their property is subject to storm surge or inland flooding. There probably would be no reason to evacuate the entire Cape in the event of a hurricane. During the summer months, however, it is anticipated that most tourists would attempt to leave the Cape & Islands if a serious hurricane is predicted.

“Like any plan, the Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan will only work with the full cooperation of the Public,” stated Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Acting Director Kurt Schwartz. “To ensure the continued safety of individuals and their families, it is imperative that citizens carefully follow the life-saving instructions of their local and state officials, in a timely, responsible manner.”

This plan was initiated following Hurricane Edouard, which approached Cape Cod on Labor Day 1996. Within hours of the Governor’s Declaration of a State of Emergency, a 6-8 hour backup, stretching an estimated 40 miles occurred from the Sagamore Bridge to the Orleans Rotary along Route 6, due in large part to the challenges presented by the highway’s rotaries and on-ramps.  The goal of the Plan is to eliminate the causes of congestion in the areas of the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges, as well as on Routes 6 and 28, the main arteries leading to them.  Free flowing off-Cape traffic is the primary concern of the Plan.

The Plan, which is revisited and exercised annually, has been reduced to Two Phases.  In simple terms, once initiated, Phase I activates 90% of the plan. This eliminates off-Cape access to Routes 6 and 28 at the base of both Bridges, prohibits local traffic access to these main arteries through the rotaries and prohibits all cross-rotary traffic. These prohibited merges are offset by providing detours around the congestion areas to points on Route 6 and Route 28 where entering/merging will not affect the primary traffic flow. These new traffic patterns will be accomplished by traffic coordination of Massachusetts State Police at crucial travel points, a series of prepositioned informational signs set up by MassDOT and continual Media announcements. The MassDOT message boards would announce a detour for traffic bound for the Bourne Bridge.  This detour would send motorists through the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) to Route 28 to exit the Cape at the Bourne Bridge. 

Phase II is activated when the Army Corps of Engineers advises that winds have reached gusts of 70 mph, precipitating the closure of all traffic on the Bridges.  All motorists on the road will then have the option of seeking their own shelter, particularly in large local public mass care shelters or, as a last resort, being sheltered at retrofitted barracks on the MMR until the storm passes.

The Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan has been developed by the cooperative efforts of federal, state and local partners.  Participants in this process have included representatives of the MEMA, MA State Police, MA National Guard, MassDOT, American Red Cross, Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, MA Department of Public Health, State of Massachusetts Animal Emergency Response Team (SMART), National Weather Service, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department and numerous Public Safety Personnel from the potentially impacted communities from Bourne to Provincetown and the Islands.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Hurricane Preparedness, go to www.mass.gov/mema . Follow MEMA updates on Facebook and Twitter.

THE IMPACT OF HURRICANES ON INLAND LOCATIONS
Major Inland Flooding Can Be A Serious Issue

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Hurricanes or tropical cyclones are not merely coastal events or wind events. Due to the fact that Massachusetts is a relatively small state, depending upon the storm’s track, the entire Commonwealth could be severely impacted by a tropical storm or hurricane. The destruction dealt by the devastating winds can result in destroyed buildings, downed trees and power outages. However, the greatest damage is usually due to the impact of flooding.

“The sometimes forgotten threat associated with hurricanes, particularly in our inland communities is flooding,” stated Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Acting Director Kurt Schwartz. “The west side of the eye of a hurricane, as it moves northward along the Atlantic Coast, is the ‘wet side’, as the storm’s counterclockwise winds draw moisture from the ocean, potentially depositing torrential rains far inland.

Intense rainfall is not directly related to high wind speeds of tropical cyclones. In fact, some of the greatest rainfall amounts occur from weaker storms that drift slowly or stall over an area. A tropical storm has the ability to produce more rainfall than a Category 5 hurricane. As all hurricanes weaken to tropical storms and move inland, the threat of torrential rains and high winds over large areas intensifies the risks of flooding.

Although weakened to a tropical storm prior to its arrival in the Commonwealth, in 1999, most of Hurricane Floyd’s impact was rain and flood related, causing severe damage as far west as the Berkshires. In fact, some of our most devastating flooding associated with these historic storms has occurred in Central and Western Massachusetts. Up to 17” fell in conjunction with the ‘Hurricane of 1938’ and 25” of rain fell over a 5-day period in August 1955 from ‘Connie’ and ‘Diane’ which reached Massachusetts as Tropical Storms. During that period, the City of Westfield received 13.15” of rain in a single day.

• Have a Family Disaster Kit.
• Develop a Family Communication Plan.
  
• Educate yourself about your community’s Emergency Management Plan, including potential evacuation routes and locations of public shelters by contacting your local Emergency Management Director. Learn your area’s vulnerability to flooding, as well.
  
• In highly flood-prone areas, keep materials on hand like sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, plastic garbage bags, lumber, shovels, work boots and gloves.
  
• Be aware of streams, drainage channels and areas known to flood, so you or your evacuation routes are not cut off.
  
• As a storm approaches, continually monitor the event on local Media.
  
• If advised to evacuate by Public Safety officials, do so immediately.
  
• Avoid driving into water of unknown depth; as little as 6” of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
  
• Avoid downed power lines. Assumed a downed wire is a live wire.
  
• Have flood insurance. Flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance. Do not make assumptions. Check your policy. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a pre-disaster flood mitigation and insurance protection program. The National Flood Insurance Program makes federally backed flood insurance available to residents and business owners.
  

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Hurricane Preparedness, go to www.mass.gov/mema. Follow updates from MEMA on Facebook and Twitter.

SHELTER-IN-PLACE FOR A HURRICANE
MEMA Offers Tips To Help Keep Your Family Safe

If a hurricane is ever upon New England, state or local Public Safety Officials may instruct you to “Shelter-in-Place”.  As with Evacuations, you would be alerted in a variety of ways. Learn what methods are utilized in your community. They could include:

• Outdoor sirens or horns.
• The Emergency Alert System (EAS) - information provided on the radio and television.
• National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Alert Radio.
• ‘All Call’, ‘Reverse 911’ or ‘Code Red’ – one of a number of automated telephoning systems for sending recorded messages to which your community may subscribe.
• News Media.
• Residential Route Alerting, which dispatches Public Safety vehicles through neighborhoods announcing messages with Public Address systems or literally ‘knocking on doors”.
• U.S. Coast Guard Marine Broadcast.
• A message on Teletypewriters (TTY).

The following are steps to be taken only when instructed to ‘Shelter-in-Place’, not to be completed ahead of time:

• If instructed by Public Safety officials, you should immediately go indoors.
• Close and lock all doors and windows. Locking is preferred since it generally ensures that the door or window is shut tight.
• Close drapes, blinds and window shades.
• Protect windows with pre-drilled plywood sheets.
• Go to a room in the center of your home with the fewest windows and doors.
• It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room you select.  Cellular telephone equipment may be overwhelmed during an emergency.
• Do not call your local fire or police departments (9-1-1) for information.  Public Safety workers will need their lines open for emergency use.  Call your local Emergency Management Office or Mass2-1-1, which is available 24/7 to respond to your questions.
• Take your Family Disaster Kit to that location.
• Keep pets indoors. Make sure you have additional food and water supplies for them.
• If you have livestock, shelter them, also.  Provide them with stored feed and water.
• Continue to monitor your Emergency Alert Station (EAS) and other Media for official warnings, messages and instructions.
• Stay inside until officials say otherwise.
• If you are in your vehicle and are advised to ‘Shelter-in-Place’, and are very close to home, your office or a public building, go there immediately.   

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Hurricane Preparedness, go to www.mass.gov/mema .  Follow MEMA updates on Facebook and Twitter.

MEMA ADVISES CAUTION DURING EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER

FRAMINGHAM, MA – With the extremely hot weather the Commonwealth is presently experiencing, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is advising people to be cautious during this period of extreme heat, and is offering some tips to help keep cool and safe.

“A few common sense measures can reduce heat-related problems, especially for the elderly, the very young and people with respiratory ailments, who are more susceptible to the effects of high temperatures,” said MEMA Acting Director Kurt Schwartz. “As this extreme weather continues, some communities may be setting up cooling centers to assist those seeking relief from the oppressive heat.”

Here are some tips to follow during hot, humid weather:

• Slow down, avoid strenuous activity.  Do not try to do too much on a hot day.
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.  Light colors will reflect heat and sunlight and help maintain normal body temperature. Protect your face with a wide-brimmed hat.
• Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty. Attempt to stay hydrated.
• Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.  They can actually dehydrate your body.
• Eat well-balanced, light, regular meals.  Avoid high protein foods that increase metabolic heat.
• Stay indoors as much as possible. 
• If you do not have air conditioning, stay on your lowest floor, out of the sun.  Electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help evaporate perspiration, which cools your body.
• Go to a place where you can get relief from the heat, such as air conditioned schools, libraries, theaters and other community facilities that may offer refuge during the warmest times of the day.
• Check with your community for information about possible local ‘cooling centers’.
• Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings or louvers.  Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80%.
• Avoid too much sunshine.  Sunburn slows the skin’s ability to cool itself.  If you are outside, use sunscreen lotion with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rating.
• Never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle.
• Check on family, friends and neighbors.

In normal weather, the body’s internal thermostat produces perspiration that evaporates and cools the body.  However, in extreme heat and high humidity, evaporation is slowed and the body must work extra hard to maintain normal temperature, which may lead to heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.  If you believe you, or anyone you are with, is experiencing a heat-related medical emergency, promptly call 911, and if possible, move to a cooler place.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA, go to www.mass.gov/mema . Continue to follow information from MEMA on Facebook and Twitter.

RECOVERY FUNDING FOR THE COMMONWEALTH TOPS $85 MILLION

ANDOVER, Mass. – The federal contribution to the Commonwealth’s recovery has climbed to $85 million, state and federal disaster officials announced today.

The figure includes approved Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) individual and household assistance grants, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans as well as Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

The following data, compiled by close of business June 16, 2010, is a snapshot of the assistance provided since the disaster declaration on March 29.

• $52,785,745  in approved Housing Assistance grants to help with recovery housing expenses, home repair costs and assistance toward repairing storm-damaged homes;
• $1,810,689  in Other Needs Assistance to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical expenses and lost personal possessions;
• $30,393,100  in SBA approved low-interest loans to eligible homeowners, renters or business owners;
• $35,038 in Disaster Unemployment Assistance disbursements;
• 36,009 residents have registered with FEMA for some form of disaster assistance;
• 34,229  homes had FEMA inspectors view damages (more than 99 percent of the inspections requested have been completed);
• 228 cities, townships and private nonprofits have applied for federal assistance to be reimbursed 75 percent of disaster-related costs such as infrastructure repair or replacement, debris removal or emergency protection measures;
• 1,510  insurance agents have been contacted by FEMA Hazard Mitigation specialists to help explain customer benefits through enrollment in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP);
• 4,691 residents visited a Disaster Recovery Center before the outreach efforts closed on June 4. A total of 12 DRCs were open in the seven-county disaster area.

Additionally, FEMA continues to work with volunteer agencies on the development of long-term recovery groups comprised of volunteer organizations to assist disaster survivors with unmet needs in hard-hit disaster communities.

With the June 28 deadline fast approaching, disaster officials urge residents with disaster related losses to register without delay. Even though you may have insurance, apply anyway for any possible unmet needs not covered by insurance. The application process takes 15-20 minutes by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or 800-462-7585 (TTY) for people with speech or hearing disabilities. Hours are between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., and multilingual assistance is available. Online application takes place on FEMA’s web site, www.disasterassistance.gov.

NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES OF NOTE

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Although the Hurricane Season in New England is defined as June 1st through November 30th, the vast majority of the 40 tropical systems that have impacted our region over the past century have struck during the months of August and September.  Because Massachusetts is such a relatively small state, it is important to realize that these are not just ‘coastal events’, but, in fact, everyone in the Commonwealth can be severely impacted by a major storm.

“New England is in the unenviable position of receiving all three types of Hurricane threats,” states Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Acting Director Kurt Schwartz. “Depending upon the storm’s track and landfall location, we can experience coastal inundation from storm surge, widespread inland river flooding, and widespread wind damage.”

To best prepare ourselves for the future, it is important to revisit the past, and examine a dozen of the most notable New England Hurricanes and their catastrophic impact upon our region.

The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635
August 25, 1635
This was the first historical record of an intense hurricane striking New England. Some refer to it as America’s first recorded natural disaster. Likely a Cape Verde-type storm, the highest winds have been estimated at Category 3 or greater at landfall, with winds of 115-plus mph. The storm’s eye is believed to have passed between Boston and Plymouth causing at least 46 casualties. The tide in Narragansett Bay was reported to be 14’ above normal, with even higher tides reported throughout the area Reports from the journal of Governor William Bradford describing the of dozens of Native Americans, the toppling of thousands of trees and the flattening of houses suggest that this storm may have possessed even greater intensity than the storms of 1815 and 1938.

The Great September Gale of 1815
September 23, 1815
Called the Great September Gale, because the word ‘hurricane’ was not yet current in American English, this storm was the first major hurricane to impact New England in 180 years. It initiated in the West Indies, growing to a Category 3 with winds of 135 mph.  After crossing Long Island, New York, the storm came ashore at Saybrook, Connecticut, funneling an 11-foot storm surge up
Narragansett Bay.  There, it destroyed 500 houses, 35 ships and flooded Providence, Rhode Island.  Impacting Central and Coastal Massachusetts, ‘The Great Gale’ destroyed the bridge over the Neponset River, connecting Dorchester and Milton, Massachusetts. At least 38 deaths have been attributed to this disaster.

The September Gale of 1869
September 8, 1869
The ‘September Gale’ was first observed in the Bahamas.  It reached Category 3 until ultimately making landfall in Rhode Island just west of Buzzards Bay, reaching the coast at Boston, and finally dissipating in Northern Maine.  This storm was very compact, but intense.  It was reported to have been less than miles wide, but it caused extensive damage in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine. Fortunately, its arrival coincided with low tide lessening the storm surge and resulting damage.

The Great New England Hurricane of 1938
September 21, 1938
This Category 5, which has also been dubbed “The Long Island Express”, was the first major hurricane to strike New England since 1869. Having formed off of the coast of Africa, it was first detected in the Tropical Atlantic.  As it slowly moved northward, when it was 100 miles east of North Carolina it suddenly accelerated to a forward motion of 60 to 70 mph. Without warning, it made landfall as a Category 3, during an astronomically high tide along Long Island and the Connecticut coast. The Blue Hill Observatory, outside of Boston, measured sustained winds of 121 mph, with gusts of 183 mph. Providence Rhode Island reported sustained winds of 100 mph, gusting to 125 mph. Storm tides of 14 to 18 feet inundated portions of the coast from Long Island to Connecticut with 18 to 25 foot tides reported as far east as Cape Cod.  Narragansett Bay experienced a destructive storm surge of 12 to 14 feet.  The hurricane’s heavy rains of 3” to 6” combined with the effects of the frontal system produced rainfall of 10” to 17” causing severe flooding, particularly in areas of Western Massachusetts and along the Connecticut River.  Downtown Providence, R.I. was impacted by a 20-foot storm surge.  Sections of the Towns of Falmouth and Truro on Cape Cod were under 8 feet of water. The widespread destruction resulting from this storm included 600 deaths and 1,700 injuries.  Over $400 million in damage occurred, including 9,000 homes and businesses lost and 15,000 damaged.  Damage to the Southern New England fishing fleet was catastrophic, as over 6,000 vessels were either destroyed or severely damaged.

The Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944
September 14-15, 1944
Sometimes compared to the Great Hurricane of 1938, this storm was first detected northeast of the Lesser Antilles. The Miami Hurricane Warning Office designated the storm, as such to emphasize its size and intensity.  This may be the first time a n ‘official’ name was give to a storm by the office which would evolve into the present-day National Hurricane Center. From there, it hugged the United States coast, crossing Long Island, New York, the Rhode Island Coast, emerged into Massachusetts Bay and impacted Maine.  With 140 mph winds, this Category 4, produced hurricane force winds over a diameter of 600 miles causing over $100 million damage.  70-foot high waves were also reported. Up to 11” of rain fell in areas of New England. 390 deaths were attributed to this hurricane, most of which were at sea.  The relatively low number of land deaths (46) was attributed to the well-executed warnings and evacuations. It wreaked havoc on World War II shipping, sinking a U.S. Navy destroyer and minesweeper, as well as two U.S. Coast Guard cutters.

Hurricane Dog
September 11-12, 1950
A strong Category 5, Hurricane Dog reached a peak intensity of 185 mph.  The storm was named ‘Dog’, from the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet (the 4th named storm of the season). First observed east of the Lesser Antilles on August 30th, this was a major hurricane that never actually made landfall, passing within 200 miles of Cape Cod. In fact it had weakened to barely hurricane strength as it passed Nantucket. However, it was responsible for the deaths of at least a dozen fishermen off the New England coast. It also caused about $3 million damage.  Fortunately 17 naval vessels had relocated to avoid the storm. To this day, it retains the record for the longest continuous duration for a Category 5 Atlantic Hurricane of 60 hours, from September 5th through September 8th.  Dog also fluctuated between Category 4 and 5 strength on four different occasions, which is also a record. 

Hurricane Carol
August 31, 1954
This compact, but powerful, borderline Category 3 battered New England, killing 68.  With 100 mph winds, gusting up to 135 mph, Carol caused over $460 million in damage, destroying 4,000 homes, 3,500 cars, and over 3,000 boats. This was arguably the most destructive storm to hit Southern New England since 1938. It formed as a tropical storm near the Bahamas, making brief landfall along the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  The storm passed over Long Island, just east of the Hurricane of 1938 landfall, through Central New England into Canada, bringing a storm surge of 14.4 feet to Narragansett Bay and New Bedford Harbor. Over 6” of rain fell. Water depths reached 12 feet in downtown Providence, Rhode Island.  Some consider Carol the worst storm in the history of Cape Cod. All of Rhode Island, much of Eastern Connecticut, and much of Eastern Massachusetts lost power, with a 95% loss of telephone service. The storm was still producing hurricane-force winds as it traveled through New Hampshire and Maine. Notably, it knocked down the spire of the Old North Church. The name ‘Carol’ was the first Atlantic hurricane to be retired.

Hurricane Edna
September 11, 1954
Edna arrived right on the heels of Hurricane Carol. It formed off of Barbados, reaching Category 3 strength at the Outer Banks of North Carolina, with its highest winds of 120 mph. Edna tracked just east of Carol’s track. The storm passed over Eastern Cape Cod and the Islands, during a rising high tide, where peak gusts were recorded at 120 mph.  Storm surges of 6’ were common. Its eastern track, which resulted in heavy rain and major inland flooding, adding 5” to 7” of rain, to Carol’s previous 6”. The storm was responsible for over 2 deaths and $40 million damage across the region.  Ultimately, it made landfall near Eastport, Maine, becoming one of Maine’s worst-ever hurricanes.  The name ‘Edna’ has been retired.

Hurricane Diane
August 17-19, 1955
Born in the tropical Atlantic, this storm reached Category 3 status, as it followed the path of Hurricane Connie of 5 days earlier. Maximum winds were recorded at 120 mph. The cooler air behind Connie became entrained in Diane’s circulation causing it to steadily weaken to a Tropical Storm as it reached the Southern New England coast. However, Diane dropped heavy rain of 10” to 20”, setting flood records throughout the region.  Diane was recognized as the wettest tropical cyclone to impact New England. The storm was blamed for nearly 200 deaths.  The $832 million damage qualified it as the most costly hurricane in U.S. history until Hurricane Betsy in 1965. The name ‘Diana’ has been retired.

Hurricane Donna
September 12, 1960
Hurricane Donna was a Category 5 Cape Verde-type hurricane that impacted most of the Caribbean Islands and every single state on the U.S. Eastern seaboard. It recorded 160 mph winds with gusts up to 200 mph. Donna holds the record for retaining major hurricane status of Category 3 or better in the Atlantic basin for the longest period of time.  From September 2nd to September 11th it sustained winds of 115 mph as it roamed the Atlantic for 17 days.  This storm is the only one on record to produce hurricane-force winds in Florida, the Mid-Atlantic States and New England. Donna hit New England in Southeast Connecticut with sustained winds of 100 mph, gusting to 125-130 mph, cutting diagonally through the region to Maine. It produced pockets of 4” to 8” of rain as well as 5 to 10-foot storm surges. The storm ultimately killed 364, and caused over  $500 million in damage.  The name ‘Donna’ has been retired.

Hurricane Gloria
September 27, 1985
Hurricane Gloria was a powerful Category 4 Cape Verde-type storm that prowled the Atlantic for 13 days, with highest winds of 145 mph. Hugging the coastline, as it made its way north, Gloria crossed Long Island, making landfall at Milford, Connecticut. As it continued northeastward through New England, it became extratropical over Maine on the 28th.  In spite of arriving during low tide, it did cause severe beach erosion along the New England coast, as well as the loss of many piers and coastal roads.  There was a moderate storm surge of 6.8 feet in New Bedford, Mass. The storm left over 2,000,000 people without power. It dropped up to 6” of rain in Massachusetts, causing many flooding issues in the region.  Overall, casualties were relatively low with 8 deaths, but damage reached $900 million. The name ‘Gloria’ has been retired.

Hurricane Bob
August 19, 1991
Formed in the Bahamas, Hurricane Bob made landfall in New England near New Bedford, Mass. with 115 mph winds, cutting a path across Southeastern Massachusetts towards the Gulf of Maine. Peak winds of in excess of 100 mph were recorded in the Towns of Brewster and Truro on Cape Cod.  Over 60% of the residents of Southeastern Massachusetts and Southeastern Rhode Island lost power.  There were 4 different reports of tornados as Bob came ashore. Buzzards Bay saw a 10- to 15-foot storm surge. A number of south-facing beaches on the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard lost 50 feet of beach to erosion. Up to 7” of rain was reported to have fallen throughout New England. Bob was blamed for 18 storm-related deaths. The damage total for Southern New England was set at $1 billion, with $2.5 billion overall damage from the storm.  The name ‘Bob’ has been retired.

LAKEVILLE RECOVERY CENTER TO BECOME SBA OUTREACH SITE

ANDOVER, Mass. – The Disaster Recovery Center in Lakeville, which has served more than 1,250 Southeastern Massachusetts residents during its eight weeks of operations, will transition to a more specialized U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) as of June 7, 2010.

The SBA outreach center will remain at the same location with the same operating hours: the Free Public Library, 4 Precinct Street in Lakeville, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, until further notice.
The full-service Lakeville recovery center was one of the first to open after the March 29 presidential disaster declaration. Officials said visitor traffic has slowed considerably in the past few weeks, prompting the change in focus.

To ease the transition to a one-stop resource for SBA disaster loan information and help, several Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recovery specialists will be at the DLOC for a limited time to continue assisting applicants with FEMA recovery programs.

At the DLOC, SBA representatives will be able to answer questions about the SBA’s low-interest rate disaster loan program for homeowners, renters and businesses, issue applications, explain the application process, help individuals complete an application and close approved disaster loans.
For answers to questions about disaster loan applications, the SBA Customer Service Center can be reached at 800-659-2955, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For further assistance from SBA, loan applicants can go online at www.sba.gov/services/DisasterAssistance or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Anyone with disaster-related damages can still apply for low-interest loans at the SBA’s secure website, https://DisasterLoan.sba.gov/ela/

Anyone who has not registered with FEMA for disaster aid, has questions about their application or seeks more information about recovery programs should call FEMA’s toll-free helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362), 800-462-7585, (TTY) for people with speech or hearing disabilities. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and multilingual assistance is available. Online registration is available at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

MASSACHUSETTS ENTERS THE 2010 HURRICANE SEASON

Federal, State & Local Officials Prepare as June 1st Marks the Official Start

Framingham, MA – To help increase public awareness of the effects hurricanes can have on the Commonwealth and the preparedness steps we all must take, over the next fourteen weeks the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) will again be disseminating important information to ensure the continued safety of our citizens and property.

“In recent years, we have witnessed the severity of these storms and their destructive power throughout other areas of the country,” stated MEMA Acting Director Kurt Schwartz. “With another very active hurricane season predicted, we must continually prepare for the region’s next major storm.”

MEMA will be continually promoting Hurricane Preparedness through weekly news releases highlighting key issues relative to the New England Hurricane Season.  In addition, there will continue to be workshops, exercises and drills to help local officials prepare. Important Hurricane Preparedness information will be available on the MEMA website at www.mass.gov/mema, Facebook and Twitter pages.  Topics will include Massachusetts’ Hurricane History, Preparedness Tips for Families, Home Owners, People Requiring Additional Assistance, Pet Owners, Boaters, Businesses, Inland Residents, as well as information about Sheltering-In-Place and Evacuation.

Although the Hurricane Season in New England is defined as June 1st to November 30th, 75% of the 40 tropical systems that have impacted our region in the past century have struck during the months of August and September.  The last severe hurricane to hit Massachusetts was Hurricane Bob in August 1991.  Bob, a Category 2 Hurricane, with winds between 91 and 110mph, caused almost $1 billion in damage, at the time.  More recently, Hurricanes Edouard (1996), Bonnie (1998) and Bill (2009) threatened the Bay State, but veered out into the Atlantic as they traveled up the coast. 

In 1999, Hurricane Floyd, although weakened to the strength of a tropical storm prior to its arrival in New England, demonstrated that these storms are not merely ‘coastal events’. Most of that storm’s impact was rain and flood related, causing severe damage as far west as the Berkshires.

Some of our most devastating flooding associated with these storms has occurred in Central and Western Massachusetts – up to 17” of rain fell in association with the Hurricane of 1938 and 25” of rain fell over a 5-day period in August 1955 from Connie & Diane, with the City of Westfield received 13.15” in a single day!

This demonstrates that the entire Commonwealth should take the proper Hurricane Season precautions.
 
Southern New England lies in the unenviable position of receiving all three “Hurricane Threats”, depending upon the track and landfall location: 1) Coastal inundation due to storm surge 2) Widespread inland river flooding and 3) Widespread wind damage far inland.

SCHEDULE OF “HURRICANE SEASON” TOPICS

Week of June 1  – Beginning of Hurricane Season
Week of June 7 – New England Hurricanes of Note
Week of June 14 – Family Hurricane Preparedness
Week of June 21 – Preparing Your Home for a Hurricane
Week of June 28 – Power Outages during a Hurricane
Week of July 5 – Evacuation for a Hurricane
Week of July 12 – Sheltering in Place during a Hurricane
Week of July 19 – Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan
Week of July 26 – Inland Flooding from a Hurricane
Week of August 2 – Hurricane Challenges for People Requiring Additional Assistance
Week of August 9 – Protecting Your Pets during a Hurricane
Week of August 16 – Preparing Your Business for a Hurricane
Week of August 23 – Preparing Your Boat for a Hurricane
Week of August 30 – After the Storm