Friday, 9/15 – Tropical Storm Warning for North Shore Area – What You Need to Know – Watch Governor’s Press Conference

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Weather – Tropical storm warning has been issued for coastal areas, today increasing clouds, temps in the 70s and rain and wind will impact the area sometime around midnight.

Storm Notes – Posted Below

Governor’s Press Conference today

BOSTON – In advance of the wind, rain, and coastal flooding expected from Hurricane Lee, Governor Maura T. Healey has declared a state of emergency and requested that FEMA issue a Pre-Disaster Emergency Declaration under the Stafford Act, which would make Massachusetts eligible for Direct Federal Assistance for response costs including personnel, equipment, supplies, and evacuation assistance. Additionally, the Governor is activating up to 50 National Guard members to provide support for storm preparations and response, including operating highwater vehicles.

National Weather Service

Hurricane Lee will make a close pass of southern New England tonight and tomorrow. Impacts will be greatest across the Cape and Islands, where wind gusts of 50-60mph are possible Sat AM. Rain will be mainly east of the I-495 corridor.

Community News Notes – Photos – Sports

Governor’s Press Conference today at 11:30

Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, MEMA and other state officials will provide an update on the storm’s preparations for the anticipated impact of Hurricane Lee. 

City of Salem Prepares for Storm Impacts

Residents are Encouraged to Stay Alert and Take Precautions Ahead of the Likely Weekend Weather

SALEM – The City of Salem encourages all community members to monitor weather forecasts and City alerts ahead of the potential storm, likely to arrive this coming weekend, overnight September 15^th through September 16^th.

The National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm watch for Coastal Massachusetts, including Salem, for Friday night through Saturday. Salem will be in the outer wind band fields of the storm and may see gusts in the 40-50 MPH range. There may be a tidal inundation up to 3’ with a minor storm surge, all dependent on the timing of the storm at high tide.

Residents who live in areas prone to coastal flooding should plan ahead; anticipate road closures on streets prone to flooding. Currently there is no recommendation from the Salem Fire Department/Emergency Management to evacuate.

Rainfall amounts may exceed 2” so residents are asked to help ensure storm drains and catch basins in the vicinity of their home are clear. Stay tuned to local media and social media for any further updates.

The City of Salem is taking the following actions to prepare for the storm:

• Closing or opening tide gates for the South River and Forest River as necessary to help mitigate flooding in the South Salem area;
• Installing jersey barriers in the Juniper Point and Shore Avenue areas to provide additional sea wall and storm surge protection;
• Checking and cleaning catch basins in as many locations as feasible to help mitigate flooding (residents are encouraged to assist by checking catch basins and storm drains near their homes);
• Staging barriers in targeted locations for anticipated road closures in flooding-prone areas;
• Pre-emptively scheduling crews for the highest forecasted rain times to assist with potential flooding issues;
• Pre-emptively scheduling standby tree crews for the highest forecasted wind times during the storm;
• Installing generator at the Ocean Avenue pump station in the event of a power loss to the station.

“Please take precautions and stay alert this weekend during the predicted storm,” said Mayor Dominick Pangallo. “Be sure to check on any neighbors who may need assistance, and reach out to the City with any emergency needs.”

The City of Salem Department of Public Service (DPS) will be on call for any other utility issues that may arise. In case of such an issue, call DPS at 978-744-3302 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8AM-4PM). Outside of normal business hours call the Salem Police at 978-744-1212 or Salem Fire at 978-744-1235.

For issues that arise overnight on Friday or over the weekend, residents should call the Salem Police Department 978-744-1212. Do not use SeeClickFix or the DPS business line in those situations.

To report a power outage, call 1-800-465-1212. To report an emergency, call 9-1-1.

City of Lynn

Preparing for Big Storms – Information from the City of Gloucester

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Greg Verga, Police Chief Edward Conley, and Fire Chief Eric Smith ask residents to remain alert and take necessary precautions as Hurricane Lee is expected to track toward New England in the coming days. According to the National Hurricane Center, Lee is moving toward the north-northwest and a turn toward the north is expected by tonight. Public safety officials are receiving briefings as the situation is updated, and are staying current on storm tracks and forecasts to ensure staffing is in place to deal with any emergency. Hurricanes can bring many different types of wind and water hazards, including storm surges, strong winds and flooding. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offer several tips to help residents better prepare for extreme weather: Know Your Evacuation Zone Learn if you live or work in a hurricane evacuation zone. If you live in an area that may flood and you may need assistance evacuating, plan with family, neighbors, and friends to determine who may be able to assist. Contact your local public safety officials to make them aware of your needs. Make an Emergency Plan Have an emergency plan for how your family would communicate, evacuate, and shelter in place that addresses the needs of all family members, including seniors, children, individuals with access and functional needs, and pets. If you receive medical treatment or home health care services, work with your medical provider to determine how to maintain care and service if you are unable to leave your home or have to evacuate. Steps to making an emergency plan include: Discuss the questions below with your family, friends or household to start your emergency plan. How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings? What is my shelter plan? What is my evacuation route? What is my family/household communication plan? Consider specific needs in your household. Fill out a Family Emergency Plan. A sample plan can be found here. Practice your plan with your family/household. Build an Emergency Kit Build an emergency kit that will sustain your household for three to five days without power. A basic emergency supply kit may include the following recommended items: Food and water Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit, including prescription medicine Disinfectants, moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies Whistle (to signal for help) Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air) Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place) Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties (for personal sanitation) Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities) Manual or battery-powered can opener (for food) Local maps Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery Preparing at home Check flashlights and portable radios to confirm they’re working. Fully charge your cell phone, laptop and any other devices before the storm. Check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If you own a car, make sure the gas tank is at least half full should you need to travel. Have an emergency food supply in case of a power outage. People should have supplies to sustain their families for at least 72 hours. Set your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings (remember to reset them back to normal once power is restored). During an outage, minimize the number of times you open the refrigerator or freezer door. Prepare your home by securing or bringing in outdoor objects (patio furniture, children’s toys, trash cans, etc.) that could be swept away or damaged during strong winds or flooding. Also, elevate items in your basement in case of flooding, check your sump pump, unplug sensitive electronic equipment, park vehicles in areas that are unlikely to flood and remove boats from the water. Bring in boats from moorings or add extra lines to secure them. The Harbormaster will not be responding to boats off of mooring until the storm weakens and it is safe for crews to respond. MEMA recommends purchasing a generator to maintain electricity in an outage. NEVER run a generator indoors, in a garage, or with the exhaust facing the home or home air intakes. Pack a bag with important items in case you need to evacuate. Don’t forget to include needed medications and any valuable personal belongings. Should a Weather Event Occur Don’t go out during a hurricane or tropical storm, if possible. Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies, including downed power lines and gas leaks. Stay away from downed utility wires. Always assume a downed power line is live. Report power outages to your utility company. Do not call 9-1-1 to report an outage or to ask about power restoration. Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions and those who may need additional assistance. Stay Informed Every family should have multiple methods for receiving emergency alerts. Learn more about different types of alerting and information tools including the Emergency Alert System, Wireless Emergency Alerts, NOAA Weather Radio, social and traditional news media, and your local notification systems. For more information on hurricane planning, click here. ###

A message from the City of Gloucester, Gloucester Police and Gloucester Fire Department

Statement from National Grid

As forecasts continue to shift, we are prepared for Hurricane Lee to potentially impact Massachusetts customers overnight Friday into Saturday, bringing heavy rains, potential flooding, and damaging winds into the region. Primary concerns include flooding due to heavy rains and gusting winds of up to 70 mph in some areas, primarily the eastern coast of Massachusetts, including the South Shore, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. We have secured more than 600 field-based crews and over 3,300 personnel as part of our emergency response operations and preparedness activities. We are also continuing to monitor the weather reports and communicate with local officials, first responders, and life support customers. As always, the safety of our customers, communities, and crews is the top priority during any power restoration process. Our crews will begin the restoration process when it is deemed safe to conduct work. For example, it is not safe to work in an elevated bucket during periods of increased wind gusts. We’re asking our customers to stay connected and follow prepared safety plans, including these important reminders below. To learn more about how we prepare for storms, click this video link: National Grid: Storm Planning and Preparation – YouTube Stay safe before, during and after the storm. Please keep safety a priority with the following reminders. Electric Safety Before a storm hits, ensure you are prepared. Keep flashlights and extra batteries on hand and make sure mobile devices are fully charged so you can stay connected in the event of an outage. For more storm safety tips visit ngrid.com/stormsafety. If you see a downed power line, keep away from it and anything it may be in contact with. Downed lines should be immediately reported by calling National Grid at 1-800-465-1212 or 911. Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors to prevent the buildup of deadly carbon monoxide. Before operating a generator, be sure to disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker, located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could endanger our crews and your neighbors. Customers who depend on electrically powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should contact us at 1-800-322-3223 for information on requesting designation as a life support customer. In a medical emergency, always dial 911. If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off, but leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage. Gas Safety If you suspect a natural gas leak: Get Out – All occupants should leave the house or building immediately. Please do not use the telephone or light switches for any reason. Call – After leaving the house or building and reaching a safe environment, call 911 or our 24-hour gas emergency number: 1-800-233-5325. Stay Out – Do not return to your home until National Grid tells you it is safe. Stay Connected To receive outage alerts by text message*, text REG to 64743. Once registered, text OUT to 64743 to report an outage or STAT to check the status of your outage. *Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Outages can also be reported online or by calling 1-800-465-1212. To find safety information, report and check the status of outages, view storm updates and access outage maps, visit us at ngrid.com/outagecentral. Friend us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to see the latest updates. Report an Outage National Grid

City of Lynn

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