Submitted by the town of Northborough
Based on the latest storm track, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) anticipates a major winter storm that will impact the state on Friday and Saturday. Primary concerns continue to be high amounts of snow (1-2 feet across much of the state), high winds (gusts up to 80 mph along the coast, up to 50 mph within the Rte. 95 corridor, and up to 40 mph further inland), moderate and major coastal flooding, and associated widespread, extended power outages.
Town Officials have been working throughout the week monitoring the storm track and forecasts, assembling resources and planning responses. Town officials will continue to monitor information that is provided by MEMA and will put more information on the Town’s website as the situation becomes clearer. Currently, the Town is asking all residents to take precautions to prepare their families and homes for the storm. Residents are reminded to call 911 to reach the Northborough Public Safety Dispatch Center in case of any emergency. Please do not call this number for any non-emergency questions.
Click here for Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Website
Please continue to follow media reports for updates on this winter storm and information from Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). And remember to check on your neighbors who may live alone and would appreciate someone checking in on them.
BE PREPARED:
- Check flashlights and portable radios to ensure that they are working, and you have extra batteries. A radio is an important source of critical weather and emergency information during a storm.
- If your water supply could be affected by a power outage (a well-water pump system), fill your bathtub and spare containers with water. Water in the bathtub should be used for sanitation purposes only, not as drinking water. Pouring a pail of water from the tub directly into the bowl can flush a toilet.
- Set your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings (remember to reset them back to normal once power is restored). During an outage, do not open the refrigerator or freezer door unnecessarily. Food can stay cold in a full refrigerator for up to 24 hours, and in a well-packed freezer for 48 hours (24 hours if it is half-packed).
- If you have medication that requires refrigeration, check with your pharmacist for guidance on proper storage during an extended outage.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions and guidelines when using a generator. Always use outdoors, away from windows and doors. Carbon Monoxide (CO) fumes are odorless and can quickly accumulate indoors. Never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator directly into household wiring, a practice known as "backfeeding." This is extremely dangerous and presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer. It also bypasses some of the built-in household circuit protection devices.
- If your electric panel in your home has been flooded with water, please contact National Grid to cut the power to your home. You will need a certified and licensed electrician to address the restoration of power to the panel once all corrective actions are taken by these professionals.
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:
Police/Fire/Medical Emergencies In case of emergency, please call 911 to reach the Northborough Public Safety Dispatch Center. Please do not call this number for any non-emergency questions.
National Grid To report power outages, call National Grid’s 24-hour Customer Service Line at 1-800-322-3223. Downed wires should be reported to National Grid at 1-800-465-1212. Some of these wires may be telephone or cable wires BUT all downed wires should be considered dangerous and NOT handled in any way. Everyone should keep clear of the downed wires. Information as to National Grid repairs and restoration timelines should be directed to National Grid’s customer service personnel.
OTHER VALUABLE CONTACTS:
MEMA's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MassachusettsEMA
MEMA Twitter: @MassEMA