Storm Advisory #2 Coastal Storm Preparations

The storm forecast for Thursday has worsened a bit with increased snow potentials of 12”-16” starting between 3:00-5:00 AM with blizzard conditions throughout the day and snow ending early in the evening. The storm has shifted west closer to shore which has upgraded the coastal flood watch to a coastal flood warning. With the 12.1’ astronomical high tide and the strong northeast winds, we should expect moderate coastal flooding with potential for pockets of major flooding along the immediate coastline.

Scituate Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, January 4, 2018.

Our coastal homes should use shutters and plywood to cover north and east facing doors and windows today while you have the time and fair weather. We encourage those who live in the flood prone areas to evacuate by 10 AM as we could expect flooding as early as 11 AM. The Town shelter will be at the Scituate High School cafeteria and will open at 7 AM on Thursday. For Humarock residents only, there will be a small shelter available at the Humarock Boat House, 10 Marshfield Ave, across from the Post Office beginning at 9 AM Thursday.  If you have any questions, please call 781-837-2500.   

For anyone who needs assistance or transportation please call 781-545-8749 to schedule a ride. This should be done this evening or first thing in the morning at the latest. Please move your vehicles from flood prone areas in the morning if not tonight. The T parking lots in Greenbush and North Scituate will be available for vehicles short term (24 hours) during the storm. Please allow room along the roads for the plows to do their job safely and effectively.  

If you plan on evacuating and live along the coastline we encourage you to utilize our new “I have evacuated” link on the Town Emergency Preparedness page: scituatema.gov.  Click on Storm Alert tab in red then click on “I have evacuated” link.  Then complete the short question section and submit. We would like to have all who have evacuated submit this info to reduce the risk that first responders must take and also to keep your families informed if they call for your wellbeing. This Emergency Preparedness page has answers to any storm questions you may have. If you cannot find what you need please call 781-545-8749.

Initially the snow and coastal flooding will be the primary concerns. During the peak of the storm we will likely have blizzard conditions with extreme cold returning in the late afternoon. Estimates are for more than 12” of snow by Thursday night and a potential wind chill of 15-35 degrees below zero lasting through much of the weekend. Wind gusts are forecast to be in excess of 60MPH which will likely bring trees and limbs down causing moderate power outages. Please prepare for the potential of power outages lasting several days. If you lose power or see a downed wire please stay clear and call National Grid at 800-465-1212, Humarock residents call Eversource at 1-800-592-2000.

We encourage all of our citizens and visitors to stay informed and continue planning for a significant impact. Finish securing your property today as we get a short break from the extreme cold. Make a plan in case you need to evacuate from our coastal neighborhoods. If evacuations are necessary we ask our inland citizens to invite your coastal friends to stay with you during the storm (be a host to the coast). If you lose power, those with generators please invite your neighbors over to stay warm, especially the elderly. We also have multiple hotels listed on our Town Emergency Management website and would recommend you book early (for a list see below); you can always cancel the reservation if evacuations are not necessary. Town shelters will be available if needed; the Scituate High School is our primary shelter and will open Thursday morning at 7 AM. The Humarock resident only shelter at 10 Marshfield Ave will open at 9 AM on Thursday.

The Scituate Animal Shelter is available as a resource during the Thursday storm for pet owners who may be in need of emergency boarding, food, crates, leashes, collars etc. The Shelter is not offering boarding for convenience but only in cases where they cannot be boarded or kept safe elsewhere. The Shelter is open Wednesday 2:00-5:00 PM if residents are in need of supplies at no charge in preparing for possible evacuations from their home. It's important to keep outdoor cats indoors and if that is not possible, please contact the Shelter for assistance at  (781) 544- 4533 Ext 301.

Make sure your generators are working and that you have sufficient fuel for them. Place generators so exhaust flows away from your home and make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are operating. Again there is the potential for power outages that could last for several days and it’s best to have a plan for your family. You should have enough food and water for a minimum of three days and please get your prescriptions refilled.

The Scituate Emergency Management Team is monitoring the storm closely and will provide updates as we get more accurate information. Now is the time to plan and take action to prepare for a potential impact from this storm. Please consult the Town website scituatema.gov for hotels, emergency kits, and all other storm guidance you may need to be prepared.

Scituate Public Safety and Emergency Management Team are prepared to provide our citizens and visitors with the guidance necessary for everyone to stay safe with this impending storm. The next update will be by 10 AM tomorrow. Please get prepared for this significant event.

Here is the list of local Hotels:

INN AT SCITUATE HARBOR                         Double Tree

7 Beaver Dam Road                                     929 Hingham Street

Scituate, MA                                                  Rockland, MA

1-781-545-5550                                            1-781-871-0545

 

 

Comfort Inn                                                   Hampton Inn

850 Hingham Street                                     215 Wood Road

Rockland, M A                                               Braintree, MA

1-781-982-1000                                             1-781-380-3300

 

Best Western                                                 Boston Marriot

909 Hingham Street                                     1 Marriot Drive

Rockland, MA                                                 Quincy, MA

1-781-871-5660                                             1-617-773-4616

 

Stay Safe,

Scituate Emergency Management Agency