WEATHER FORECAST

Storm Updates

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WINTER STORM Niko UPDATE

Impacts:

Widespread power outages were  reported however crews have restored power and are nearly complete in Barnstable. As of 1:30pm, all but 9 or .03% of the Town of Barnstable Eversource customers have power.

Eversource Info Here

Click Here to Track Town Snowplow Fleet

T  H  I  N  K     S  P  R  I  N  G!

February 10, 2017 07:30 AM –The accumulating snow ended around 3:00AM. DPW main road crews are scraping and treating their routes, and then will treat their roads a final time with material during the morning commute. Secondary road crews have cleaned up and pushed back their routes. The vast majority of the crews will be at the 24 hour mark when the above is completed. A limited crew will be leading final clean-up efforts, addressing complaints and preparing for sidewalk snow plowing.

February 9, 2017 8:30 PM – All crews are continuing to plow. It appears that the worst of the snow is behind us. Gusting winds will continue throughout the night. Please continue to stay off the roads if possible.

February 9, 2017 4:30 PM – We are entering the height of the storm with heavy snow, gusting winds up to 50 mph, and limited visibility for the next few hours. The plows are all out, working hard to keep the roads passable. The Barnstable Police Department has requested that the DPW focus their efforts on the hospital and other emergency routes. There are multiple trees and power lines down throughout the Town. If you are able to, please stay off the roads.

February 9, 2017 11:00 AM – Good morning, our second  large storm of the season is at our doorstep. With predictions of over a foot of snow and high winds,  the DPW has mobilized and is pretreating the main roads. The secondary road contractors are being called in, and all trucks should be on the roads by noon. Utility companies stand ready to immediately address areas of lost power. With the predicted intensity of the storm this afternoon, it is likely roads will become snow filled. Please assist the emergency, utility and plow crews by staying off the roads.  If you are an essential worker please take care and refrain from parking on the main streets of Hyannis, Barnstable and Osterville villages. Stay Safe!

MEMA Issues Extreme Weather Notice

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Frozen thermometer

MEMA Encourages Residents to Stay Safe
During Extreme Cold Weather

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Bitter cold temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills are forecast for later this week. Forecasts from the National Weather Service for late Thursday night and early Friday morning include low temperatures between 10° and -5° and wind chill values expected to be cold as -15° to -25° across the interior and -5° to -15° near the coast. While temperatures are expected to warm up by the weekend, extreme cold temperatures and wind chills can be dangerous.

“MEMA urges residents to take precautions during the upcoming extreme cold weather. If you must go outside, dress for the conditions by covering up as much as possible and wear warm layers.” said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Director Kurt Schwartz. “Please check on your family, friends, or neighbors to make sure they are safe during the extreme cold.”

Prolonged exposure to the cold can lead to serious health issues including frostbite and in extreme cases, hypothermia. Therefore, MEMA urges residents to minimize outside activities during the extreme cold and to follow these safety tips:

· Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing instead of a single heavy layer. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens (not gloves), and sturdy waterproof boots to protect your extremities. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
· Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
o Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, seek medical help immediately.
o The warning signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. Get the victim to a warm location. If the person’s temperature drops below 95 degrees, seek immediate medical care.
· Have a well-stocked home Emergency Kit that includes a flashlight, sleeping bag or blanket, portable radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, bottled water and non-perishable food. Add seasonal supplies to your emergency kit such as extra winter clothing and blankets.
· Make sure your car is properly winterized. Keep the gas tank at least half-full. Carry a Winter Emergency Car Kit including blankets, extra clothing, a flashlight with spare batteries, a can, waterproof matches (to melt snow for drinking water), non-perishable foods, windshields scraper, shovel, sand, towrope, and jumper cables in the trunk.
· 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.
· Limit outdoor time for your pets. Freezing temperatures are dangerous to animals as well as humans.
· Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of newspapers covered with plastic to keep them from freezing. Allow a trickle of warm water to run from a faucet that is farthest from your water meter or one that has frozen in the past. This will keep the water moving so that it cannot freeze. If pipes freeze, remove insulation, completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes or wrap them with towels soaked in hot water, starting where they are most exposed to the cold. A hair dryer, used with caution, works well to thaw pipes.
· Although temperatures may be cold, bodies of water covered in ice are likely unsafe given recent temperature fluctuations. Residents are urged to stay off frozen bodies of water until ice is at least 4” thick.

Ensure you have sufficient heating fuel, as well as alternate emergency heating equipment in case you lose electricity. When utilizing alternate heating sources, such as an emergency generator, your fireplace, wood stove, or space heater, take necessary safety precautions:
· Keep a fire extinguisher handy and ensure everyone knows how to use it properly.
· Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven or charcoal barbecue grill.
· Make sure all heating devices are properly ventilated and always operate a generator outdoors and away from your home. Improper heating devices can lead to dangerous carbon monoxide (CO) buildup in the home. Make sure you test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause flulike illness or death. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, call 911 immediately, get the victim to fresh air, and open windows.
· Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from space heaters. See more winter heating safety tips from the Department of Fire Services.

If you need information on the location of open warming centers or shelters check with local authorities or call 2-1-1.

For additional information about MEMA and Extreme Cold Safety Tips, visit http://www.mass.gov/mema/cold.

MEMA is the state agency charged with ensuring the state is prepared to withstand, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies and disasters, including natural hazards, accidents, deliberate attacks, and technological and infrastructure failures. MEMA’s staff of professional planners, communications specialists and operations and support personnel is committed to an all hazards approach to emergency management. By building and sustaining effective partnerships with federal, state and local government agencies, and with the private sector – individuals, families, non-profits and businesses – MEMA ensures the Commonwealth’s ability to rapidly recover from large and small disasters by assessing and mitigating threats and hazards, enhancing preparedness, ensuring effective response, and strengthening our capacity to rebuild and recover.

Continue to follow MEMA updates on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/MassEMA; Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MassachusettsEMA; and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/MassachusettsEMA.

Massachusetts Alerts: to receive emergency information on your smartphone, including severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service and emergency information from MEMA, download the Massachusetts Alerts free app. To learn more about Massachusetts Alerts, and for information on how to download the free app onto your smartphone, visit: http://www.mass.gov/mema/mobileapp.

Cape & Islands Under Drought Advisory

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ATTENTION COTUIT RESIDENTS

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

THE COTUIT FIRE DISTRICT WATER DEPARTMENT HAS DECLARED

A STATE OF WATER SUPPLY CONSERVATION

  • Please avoid all outside water use between the hours of 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM
  • Residents living in homes on the odd numbered sides of streets are asked to water lawns and gardens on odd numbered days only.
  • Residents residing on even numbered sides of streets are requested to water lawns and gardens on even numbered days only.
  • Install rain shutoff devices on automatic irrigation systems. If devices are already installed, check for proper operation.
  • Water conservation kits are available at no charge upon request.

PLEASE USE WATER WISELY!

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Cotuit Water Dept. (508) 428-2687

water@cotuitfiredistrict.org

Road Snow and Ice Removal

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February 22, 2015 – This morning three DPW managers, including Director, Dan Santos, went to several roads and “plowed” them. There was a minimum amount of slush to plow. Not much melting had occurred and they each concluded that plowing would just leave a sheet of ice on the road. They have enough salt to make a 4 to 1 ratio of sand to salt and have decided to have crews sand/salt all the secondaries. This process should also take about eight hours to complete.

With the temperature expected to go well below freezing after today’s thaw, surface conditions will become slippery.

Take precautions when driving and walking.

 

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WIND CHILL & FROSTBITE WARNING

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coldstress

Frostbite stages:

  • First degree: ice crystals forming on your skin
  • Second degree: your skin begins to feel warm, even though it is not yet defrosted.
  • Third degree: your skin turns red, pale, or white.
  • Fourth degree: pain lasts for more than a few hours, and you may see dark blue or black areas under the skin. See a doctor immediately if these symptoms arise. Gangrene is a real threat.

Hypothermia occurs when a person’s body temperature is below 96 degrees, and temperatures as low as 60 degrees can cause hypothermia if someone isn’t properly clothed.

Remember these tips to help prevent hypothermia:

  • Dress in layers
  • Always wrap up well when going outside in the cold.
  • Set your thermostat to at least a toasty 70 degrees during cold weather.
  • Avoid extensive exposure to breezes and drafts.
  • Keep plenty of nutritious food and warm clothes and blankets on hand to help ward off the winter chill. You’d also be wise to wear a warm hat during these months.
  • Eat hot foods and drink warm drinks several times during the day.
  • Ask a family member of neighbor to check on you often.
  • Ask your doctor if any medicine you’re taking increases your risk of hypothermia. Some drugs make it difficult for your body to stay warm. Drugs that may cause a problem include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, chlorpromazine, reserpine, and tricyclic antidepressants.

BLIZZARD NEPTUNE

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♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

February 14, 2015 7:45 PM – Pretreatment of main roads and collectors has been completed.  The snow is starting to accumulate and all plows have been sent to their routes (mains and secondary roads) to begin plowing.

 

February 14, 2015 3:15 PM – Good afternoon, and Happy Valentine’s Day.  Another winter storm is upon us.  The DPW has begun pretreating the main and collector roads, but as is discussed below, due to a shortage of salt this pretreatment is with a combination of salt and sand.  This will likely result in roads conditions that are not what we have grown accustom to with salt alone.  Please drive with caution as it is possible that slippery spots will develop, and ultimately hard pack.  The current plan is to begin staging plow crews at 5PM, and begin plowing mains and secondary roads soon after that.  Recent forecasts call for snow throughout the afternoon, night, and continuing until tomorrow afternoon.  It also is calling for high winds and white out conditions.  If at all possible, please plan to be off the roads tonight, and if you can refrain from parking on Main Street Hyannis between midnight and 6:00 AM it would be appreciated.  We will update this site throughout the storm.

February 14, 2015 3:15 PM – Due to the storm, the Transfer Station at 45 Flint Street, Marstons Mills, will be closed on Sunday, February 15, 2015

Residents of Barnstable should be aware of the following emergency numbers:

If you need specific help during any storm.

Barnstable Department of Public Works (snow plowing): 508-790-6331
Barnstable Police Department Business Line: 508-775-0387
Barnstable Police Department Administration Line: 508-775-0920
Red Cross: 508-775-1540
NSTAR (EVERSOURCE): 1-800-592-2000
National Grid: 1-800-465-1212
If you find yourself in a life threatening situation, always call 911

Stay safe, be extra careful on the ice and check on your elderly neighbors!

WINTER STORM JUNO ALERT

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Blizzard Warning for Barnstable and Dukes Counties, MA

National Weather Service

A crippling and potentially historic Blizzard will impact the area mainly from late today into Tuesday, lingering into early Wednesday.

Blizzard Warning remains in effect from 7 pm this evening to noon EST Tuesday.

  • Locations: Cape Cod and the Islands.
  • Hazard types: Heavy snow, strong winds and blizzard conditions. Considerable blowing and drifting snow. Strong to damaging winds.
  • Accumulations: snow accumulations of around 10 to 18 inches. With higher amounts towards the Cape Cod Canal. Snowfall rates of 2 to 4 inches will be possible at times.
  • Timing: while the storm is expected late today lingering into early Wednesday, the worst of the storm will be tonight through Tuesday afternoon. There will be a period where heavy snow will change over to rain, mainly during the day Tuesday. Before changing back over to snow. Especially on the outer arm of Cape Cod.
  • Impacts: Heavy snow and strong winds will result in White-out / blizzard conditions with near zero visibility at times. Travel will be impossible and life threatening across the entire region. Also snow will be wet enough to result in downed trees and power outages in addition to the hurricane force winds.
  • Winds: North-northeast 35 to 45 mph with gusts around 70 to 80 mph. The height of the winds will be late tonight into Tuesday.
  • Visibilities: one quarter mile or less at times.

A Blizzard Warning is issued when sustained winds or frequent gusts over 35 mph are expected with considerable falling and/or blowing and drifting snow. Visibilities will become poor with Whiteout conditions at times. Those venturing outdoors may become lost or disoriented, so persons in the warning area are advised to stay indoors.

All unnecessary travel is discouraged beginning Monday afternoon. To allow people already on the road to safely reach their destination before the heavy snow begins, and to allow snow removal equipment to begin to clear roads.