Hurricane Preparedness Week is Here

1 - Hurricane Risk

• Peak of hurricane season is August and September
• NOAA predicts above normal hurricane season; but regardless of seasonal forecast, it only takes one storm to severely impact an area
• Entire state is at risk; storm surge threat in coastal areas and high winds, heavy rainfall, and inland flooding possible across entire state, as we saw in Irene in 2011
• While the last hurricane in Massachusetts was Bob in 1991, the Commonwealth has a history of destructive hurricanes
• Threat of tropical cyclones and other natural hazards continue during COVID-19 pandemic

2 - How Residents Can Prepare

• Know Your Evacuation Zone

• Learn if you live or work in a hurricane evacuation zone: www.mass.gov/knowyourzone

• Make an Emergency Plan

• Develop a plan with the members of your household to prepare for what to do in a tropical cyclone including making an evacuation plan, planning for individuals with access and functional needs, and any extra considerations during COVID-19 pandemic including how you might evacuate and where you might evacuate to. If you are in a high risk population, the safest option may be to evacuate to a location without the general public such as a hotel, relatives' home or other destination. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/make-a-family-emergency-plan

• Build an Emergency Kit

• Build an emergency kit containing items that will sustain you and your family in the event you are isolated for three to five days without power or unable to go to a store and customize for your family's needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, include face coverings, masks, hand sanitizer and other cleaning supplies that you may need. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/build-an-emergency-kit.

3 - 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 Media & Traditional Media, 2-1-1 Hotline, Local Notification Systems: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/be-informed-and-receive-emergency-alerts

Gov Baker's proclamation on Hurricane Preparedness Week
https://www.mass.gov/news/hurricane-preparedness-week-reminds-residents-to-prepare-take-precautions
 

as part of staying informed sign up for hurricane alerts from NOAA

Sign up for alerts from NOAA https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=atlc

Hurricane season 2020 and COVID-19

Hurricane season 2020 and COVID-19 by Colleen Tressler, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC June 1 is the official start of hurricane season, and now is a great time to make a plan to deal with weather emergencies. Especially because this year, we have the added concern of the COVID-19 pandemic, including what you need know if you have to go to a shelter. (Hint: it involves packing hand sanitizer and masks.) Read more https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/06/hurricane-season-2020-and-covid-19   This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

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Today (June 1) marks the first day of the Atlantic hurricane season, which will run until November 30. Long-term averages for the number of named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes are 12, 6, and 3, respectively. The list of names for 2020 is as follows: Name Pronunciation Name Pronunciation ------------------------------------------------------------- Arthur AR-thur Laura LOOR-ruh Bertha BUR-thuh Marco MAR-koe Cristobal krees-TOH-bahl Nana NA-na Dolly DAH-lee Omar OH-mar Edouard ed-DWARD Paulette pawl-LET Fay fay Rene re-NAY Gonzalo gohn-SAH-loh Sally SAL-ee Hanna HAN-uh Teddy TEHD-ee Isaias ees-ah-EE-ahs Vicky VIH-kee Josephine JOH-seh-feen Wilfred WILL-fred Kyle KY-ull Two tropical storms, Arthur and Bertha, already formed this year in May. The next named storm that develops this season will be Cristobal. This product, the Tropical Weather Outlook, briefly describes  significant areas of disturbed weather and their potential for tropical cyclone formation during the next five days. The issuance times of this product are 2 AM, 8 AM, 2 AM, and 8 PM EDT. After the change to standard time in November, the issuance times are 1 AM, 7 AM, 1 PM, and 7 PM EST. Shared from the Tropical Weather Outlook https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=atlc&202006010550

"NOAA predicts near-normal 2019 Atlantic hurricane season"

"NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting that a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season is most likely this year. This outlook forecasts a 40% chance of a near-normal season, a 30% chance of an above-normal season and a 30% chance of a below-normal season. The hurricane season officially extends from June 1 to November 30. 

For 2019, NOAA predicts a likely range of 9 to 15 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 4 to 8 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 2 to 4 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence. An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes."

Continue reading about the NOAA outlook for the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane season:
https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/noaa-predicts-near-normal-2019-atlantic-hurricane-season




For the geeks who use RSS feeds (like I do) you can find the RSS selection of NOAA data here  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutrss.shtml


What are the names for the storms for the 1029 season?

A graphic showing 2019 Atlantic tropical cyclone names selected by
the World Meteorological Organization. (NOAA)

Hurricane season starts June 1. Are you ready?

Hurricane season starts June 1. Are you ready? by Colleen Tressler Consumer Education Specialist, FTC June 1 is the official start of hurricane season, and a great time to make a plan to deal with weather emergencies. Extreme weather events, like hurricanes and other natural disasters, can occur with little warning, and the effects come in many forms. Hurricanes may include heavy rainfall, high winds, storm surge, inland flooding, tornadoes, and rip currents.  Are you ready to leave your home at a moment's notice? The FTC's site, Dealing with Weather Emergencies, has practical tips to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from a weather emergency. Read more https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2019/05/hurricane-season-starts-june-1-are-you-ready?utm_campaign=weather-emergencies&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

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In the News: hurricane season comes to an end; Marriott reveals massive data breach; Resilience IPA to help CA fire relief

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The 2018 hurricane season began like a lazy river, a handful of circles spinning in an atmosphere still sleepy from spring. 

Only Subtropical Storm Alberto made contact with the U.S., splashing into Laguna Beach, Fla., at the end of May before the calendar even noted the official June 1 start date of storm season. Through August, it was called the “season of slop,” seemingly confirming forecasts for below average cyclonic activity. 

But then September came, the Atlantic basin caught fire, and two coasts would face the terrifying power of wind and water. 

By the last day of the 2018 hurricane season on Friday, the cyclone scoreboard included 15 named storms, including eight hurricanes and two major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher. A normal season typically has 12 named storms, including six hurricanes and two major hurricanes."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20181130/2018-hurricane-season-ends-how-accurate-were-forecasters

Visit NOAA directly to read their summary
https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/destructive-2018-atlantic-hurricane-season-draws-to-end

Hurricane season 2018 ends

"Hackers stole information on as many as 500 million guests of the Marriott hotel empire over four years, obtaining credit card and passport numbers and other personal data, the company said Friday as it acknowledged one of the largest security breaches in history. 

The full scope of the failure was not immediately clear. Marriott was trying to determine if the records included duplicates, such as a single person staying multiple times. 

The affected hotel brands were operated by Starwood before it was acquired by Marriott in 2016. They include W Hotels, St. Regis, Sheraton, Westin, Element, Aloft, The Luxury Collection, Le Méridien and Four Points. Starwood-branded timeshare properties were also affected. None of the Marriott-branded chains were threatened. 

The crisis quickly emerged as one of the biggest data breaches on record."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20181130/marriott-security-breach-exposed-data-of-up-to-500m-guests/1

"Sierra Nevada founder Ken Grossman sent letters to brewers across the country to invite them to participate in a collaborative brew day on Tuesday to brew the beer. They worked with malt and hop suppliers to provide ingredient donations so participating brewers could donate 100 percent of the sales of the beer to relief efforts. 

“We know that the rebuilding process will take time, but we’re in this for the long haul,” Grossman wrote in the announcement. “Our hope is to get Resilience IPA in taprooms all over the country to create a solid start for our community’s future.” 

In Massachusetts, at least 11 breweries have signed up to brew the Resilience IPA. 

For Wormtown Brewery in Worcester, it was an easy decision, brewmaster Ben Roesch said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181130/local-breweries-brew-beer-for-california-wildfire-relief

For more about Resilience IPA visit Sierra Nevada's page
https://sierranevada.com/resilience-butte-county-proud-ipa

For more about Resilience IPA visit Sierra Nevada's page

In the News: Gilberti leads the Walk to End Breast Cancer; trend shows more major hurricanes coming over time

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Surviving cancer is always worth celebrating, and helping to turn potential tragedy into a party is something the American Cancer Society’s Anne Gilberti has taken to be part of her job. 

In 2014, Gilberti took part in Avon 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer. She wanted to continue the effort, but did not have someone to sponsor. 

“I didn’t really have a personal connection to breast cancer - I didn’t really know anyone with breast cancer,” she said. “Fast forward to the next year when the team I was part of was doing fundraising. That very night, I was waiting on my own biopsy and I was diagnosed with breast cancer.” 

Less than a year later, she didn’t realize she would be funding her own cause, as she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. At the time of her diagnosis, she was a mother to three children, and knew she needed to be there for them."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180929/franklin-resident-takes-own-strides-for-cancer

Donate to the cause by following the link
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCCY18NER?pg=entry&fr_id=89577

Making Strides of Boston

"The Atlantic’s warmer waters triggered the unusual number of major hurricanes last year, according to a new study that predicts the region could see a couple of extra whopper storms each year by the end of the century. 

Six major hurricanes — with winds of at least 111 mph — spun around the Atlantic last year, including Harvey, Irma and Maria that hit parts of the United States and the Caribbean. Since 2000, the Atlantic has averaged three major hurricanes a year. Before that the average was closer to two. 

It may go up to five to eight major hurricanes a year around the year 2100, according to a study in this week’s journal Science. 

“We will see more active hurricane seasons like 2017 in the future,” said lead author Hiro Murakami, climate scientist and hurricane expert at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20180929/why-we-can-expect-more-whopper-hurricanes-in-coming-years

Visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for more info and to subscribe to weather alerts. https://www.noaa.gov/

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

In the News: Color run at FHS; 'cone of uncertainty' to be reduced

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The high school’s students are making color of a dark situation with year’s second annual Mr. K’s Color Run. 

Proceeds from the May 19 5-kilometer race will be put into a scholarship fund named after late physics teacher Keiichi Kitanosono. The recipient will be chosen by the science department. 

Born in Japan and educated in the United States, Kitanosono was early into his second year of teaching in 2016. William Bobrowsky, the head of the science department, said that on Nov. 9, 2016, the 25-year-old Kitanosono failed to show up for work. It was later announced that he had died unexpectedly."

Race Canceled - confirmed 5/17/18
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180417/franklin-high-color-run-to-honor-late-teacher

"The National Hurricane Center plans to shrink the dreaded “cone of uncertainty” during the upcoming season based on an improving forecast record. 

The Miami-based center made the announcement Monday, along with a series of other changes intended to improve how hurricane forecasters convey warnings to the public. Along with the shrinking cone, forecasters will extend advisories, which include warnings and watches, to 72 hours in advance of a storm, providing a full additional day to prepare. Experimental graphics used last year to depict arrival times for dangerous winds will also become a permanent addition to forecasts. 

“The changes are to improve information contained in the hurricane center products and to provide it in maybe easier to understand formats,” said Dan Brown, a senior hurricane specialist in charge of warning coordination. 

The forecast cone has long been a fixture of the hurricane forecasts but frequently debated because the public tends to focus on the center track, ignoring dangerous winds and other hazards that can extend for many more miles."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20180416/dreaded-cone-of-uncertainty-will-shrink-for-coming-hurricane-season

Additional details on the forecast changes for hurricane season can be found online
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/NHC_new_products_and_services_2018_FINAL.pdf

The National Hurricane Center can be found https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

The primary graphic displays the “earliest reasonable” arrival time

Historical Museum: Joe Landry presents "You Remember When" - Nov 19 - 1:15 PM

This will be the last presentation of the year of Joe's popular series of You Remember When. This presentation looks at the events of the year 1938, including the effects of the 1938 hurricane. Join us for an interesting and memorable look at Franklin's history.

Historical Museum: Joe Landry presents "You Remember When" - Nov 19 - 1:15 PM

"You see your fellow Americans suffering, and we feel compelled to help”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Lt. Keith Darling sat in his office at the fire station on Friday afternoon listening to the scanner for the last time before he departs on his latest hurricane relief mission. On Sunday, he leaves for a two-week deployment to Puerto Rico to aid in the island’s restoration efforts in the wake of Hurricane Maria. 

Once Darling lands in the US territory, he is unclear of his next move. 

With pride and a bit of anxiety, Darling explained that he is not sure where on the island he would be or what he would be doing. He said there would more than likely be no electricity, which means no air conditioning, and no internet access for the most part. But most concerning to him, it means limited contact to his wife and two children. 

“I guess the biggest problem anyone would have trouble with is not knowing what’s going to happen,” he said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171021/franklin-firefighteremt-leaving-for-puerto-rico

devastation in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico

In the news: hurricane recovery collection; new Treasurer/Collector

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The Greater Franklin Community can contribute to the recovery of areas affected by hurricane flooding now and at the church booth of Franklin’s Harvest Festival on Oct. 14. A donation box is located at the Franklin United Methodist Church, 82 W. Central St. 

Relief supplies will be sent to affected areas through the international aid group the United Methodist Committee on Relief. 

The church will be collecting items for cleaning buckets and health kits until Oct. 14 each Sunday from 8:45 a.m. until noon. The office is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings as well. The contribution of funds for others to complete these kits are tax deductible when marked “Advance #901570” in the memo and made out to the church."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170929/strongfranklin-united-accepting-donations-for-hurricane-victimsstrong

Franklin United Methodist Church, 82 W. Central St.

"Treasurer-Collector, Jim Dacey is retiring in November after 18 years on the job. Franklin resident and current assistant treasurer-collector, Kerri Bertone is due to take his place. 

Bertone has lived in Franklin for 30 years, and has had a long career in private-sector finance. She was officially hired at the Town Council meeting earlier this week. 

Describe your career background. 

“I started as an administrative assistant with EMC corporation. Then I went to Putnam Investments when it was here in Franklin. ... I was with them for 21 years. They had a lot of work-life balance shifts, so I was able to work in the evening when my children were small."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170929/franklin-hires-new-treasurer-collector

Hurricane Jose is on the way up the Atlantic Coast.

Hurricane Jose is on the way up the Atlantic Coast.

5-Day Uncertainty Track last updated Sat, 16 Sep 2017 09:02:20 GMT 

You can subscribe to review the National Hurricane Center alerts
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at2+shtml/090220.shtml?cone

In the News: suicide prevention; gas prices

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"For some, a cry for help can come from a few taps on a touch screen. 

While suicide prevention phone lines have long provided an outlet for people seeking help in times of crisis, text-based help lines have become increasingly common in recent years. 

“We had kicked around the idea for a number of years because we had seen an ongoing transition of younger people who prefer to communicate by texting instead of with their voice over the phone,” said Steve Mongeau, executive director of Samaritans Inc. “For younger people, not just teens but people under the age of 30, we thought a text option might open up more of an opportunity.” 

Since October 2015, Boston-based Samaritans has provided text messaging support on the Massachusetts Statewide Helpline, 1-877-870-HOPE (4673). Helpline staff and trained volunteers have responded to more than 6,000 text messages, an average of close to 500 per month and growing."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170908/suicide-prevention-text-lines-open-new-doors-to-help

Take a walk on the Town Common - World Suicide Prevention Day - Sep 10

"It could take several more weeks for gas prices to come back down to earth as oil refineries begin coming back online after Hurricane Harvey battered the Texas coast. 

“Harvey’s geographic path looks like it was crafted by the devil himself in terms of the impact on the refineries, said Tom Kloza, the global head of energy analysis for the Oil Price Information Service. “It lead to precautionary shutdowns of all Texas refineries, and, at worst, reduced about 40 percent of capacity east of the Rockies. In terms of scale, it was unprecedented.” 

In Massachusetts, gas prices surged 44 cents in the course of a week, according to AAA Northeast’s Sept. 5 survey of fuel prices. The $2.70 statewide average was the highest average price recorded in Massachusetts in two years, and the spike represents the sharpest increase since Hurricane Katrina lashed Louisiana in 2005."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170908/gas-prices-expected-to-remain-high-for-several-weeks-following-hurricane

NationalGrid: Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Tips

Hurricane Alert: Important safety information for our customers. To view this email as a web page, click here.

Hurricane Season: What you can do to prepare As our country deals with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and for the potential of an even stronger storm, we'd like to remind our customers about the importance of planning ahead. September is National Emergency Preparedness Month and National Grid is encouraging our customers to take action and be prepared, as severe storms continue to disrupt daily life and put more lives at risk. Safety is National Grid's number one priority, and we want to ensure customers properly prepare to take care of themselves, their families, and their communities. How National Grid Restores Power How to Prepare for an Emergency Build an emergency supply kit. Water, nonperishable food, first aid materials, prescriptions, flashlight, batteries and a battery-powered radio are critical items to have in an emergency supply toolkit. A well-thought-out emergency plan and a fully stocked toolkit could mean the difference between life and death. Plan your locations. Emergencies and disasters occur without warning, making it important to have a plan and the supplies you will need for the different locations you and your family frequent beyond your home: work, school, vehicles, places of worship, for example, along with shopping areas and entertainment/sports sites such as theaters, ball fields and arenas. How will you get to a safe place? How will you contact one another? How will you get back together, if separated? These are all important questions to consider when creating your plan. Anticipate your risks. Think about where you live and identify the hazards that have happened or could occur in your area. Residents in areas that usually receive significant snowfall might plan more for snowstorms, while residents who live along the coast may be more affected by hurricanes. Depending upon the nature of the emergency and your circumstances, one of the first important decisions to make is whether to stay where you are or evacuate. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. No matter where you live, make sure you plan accordingly. Know your community's plan. Find out from local government how it communicates with residents in an emergency. This could be in the form of radio/TV broadcasts, telephone, door-to-door notifications or a community siren. Get informed now so you can stay informed when it counts. Stay connected to National Grid. Online at www.nationalgridus.com, complete information on managing storms and outages is available. Under our Storms and Outage page, National Grid's provides customers with easy tools for reporting and checking the status of an outage, power outage maps and important safety tips. Customers can opt-in to receive broadcast text alerts by texting the word STORM to NGRID (64743). For the latest storm updates, follow National Grid on Twitter @nationalgridus and connect with us on Facebook. Get Involved National Grid works closely with the American Red Cross to prepare the communities we serve for natural disasters. As part of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, National Grid operates behind the scenes with the Red Cross and first responders to address the basic needs of our customers, such as food, shelter and water, during an emergency. The Annual Disaster Giving Program allows the Red Cross to help communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters. With support from National Grid and other companies, the Red Cross is able to respond to nearly 70,000 disasters each year. Recently, National Grid pledged an additional $100,000 to the Red Cross to aid in responding to Hurricane Harvey. We encourage customers to find volunteer opportunities to support community readiness. Taking an active role in community planning and preparation, supporting relief efforts, and donating funds or goods when you are able can help your neighbors in times of disaster. National Grid Here with you. Here for you.

©2017 National Grid This email was sent by: National Grid 40 Sylvan Road, Waltham, MA, 02451, U.S.A.

Hurricane season is here until November

Hurricane Season has officially begun. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted a 70 percent likelihood of 10 to 16 named storms, four to eight of which could become hurricanes. However, because Mother Nature can be unpredictable, the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation and the Division of Insurance recommend preparing in advance to minimize the circumstances that can lead to claims from hurricanes.

Continue reading about hurricane preparedness at Mass.gov here
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/hurricane-season-is-june-1-through-november-30/


While the news media tends to focus on the storms when they appear on their radar, you can subscribe to the RSS feed directly from NOAA. 

For our area, you want to subscribe to the Atlantic Basin feeds. Of course, you can also subscribe and watch for the other major storm areas.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutrss.shtml


For more on preparing for a hurricane you can visit the NOAA page
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/hurricane_preparedness.html

image from NOAA

Hurricane Joaquin will likely bring more rain

With the latest tracking from NOAA's Hurricane Central, Joaquin will likely ver off the coast and leave us more rain early next week.

as of 5:00 AM Friday, October 2

You can subscribe to receive your own alerts, maps and charts from NOAA
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Tips on Hurricane Preparedness: Be Ready Before the Storm

With thunderstorms rolling through the area this morning, it is a good reminder to be prepared for hurricane season. Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) posted these reminder tips recently.

While the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, historically the most active time for tropical storms and hurricanes in the Northern Atlantic is August to October. As such, it’s critical to prepare yourself, your family, your home, and your business for the season. 

While the Commonwealth has been spared from a major hurricane in recent years, Massachusetts is still vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes. Even in a “slow” hurricane season, it only takes one storm to create devastating impacts. Additionally, it is important to understand that while tropical storms have lower wind speeds than hurricanes, they can still produce deadly storm surge and destructive flooding. Hurricane Sandy was downgraded to a tropical storm before making landfall, and it still caused major damage along the Eastern seaboard in 2012. In 2011, Tropical Storm Irene cut through Massachusetts, bringing heavy rainfall that resulted in significant inland flooding and damage. 

Water, not wind, brings the deadliest impacts during tropical storms and hurricanes. In fact, storm surge and flooding from heavy rains are the leading causes of hurricane-related deaths.

satellite view of a hurricane

You can find MEMA on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MassachusettsEMA

or follow their alerts via Twitter  https://twitter.com/MassEMA


Continue reading the article here
http://blog.mass.gov/blog/safety/hurricane-preparedness-be-ready-before-the-storm/

September is "National Preparedness Month"

Power outages, hurricanes, floods, or snow storms – it’s important to plan ahead for emergencies. And because the Commonwealth designates September “National Preparedness Month,” there’s no better time to start than now. 

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) have partnered together to launch two public information programs to help residents be ready for emergencies and disasters.

Continue to read the full article on the MA.Gov blog here
http://blog.mass.gov/blog/safety/september-is-national-preparedness-month

September is "National Preparedness Month"

With June comes hurricane season

The MA.GOV blog has info on preparation for hurricane season. The checklist of what to do now to avoid last minute problems.

The best time to prepare for a hurricane is well before you hear warnings on the radio. Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 25-31, is a time to get ready for whatever comes your way when New England hurricane season hits June 1 through November 30.   

 ...Continue Reading Get Ready in the Calm before the Storm: Hurricane Preparedness

ma.gov web site

Chantal has fallen apart

An update on the Tropical Storm that earlier this week appeared headed for the East Coast. Chantal has fallen apart and is no longer a threat.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT3+shtml/102035.shtml

remnants of Chantal

Tropical Storm Chantal

The National Hurricane Center is charting the tracking of Tropical Storm Chantal. It is early but the track looks like it would come up the East coast next week. What path it will take and how strong it will be is another story.

Updated 7/11/13 - 
Chantal has degenerated and is no longer considered a 'tropical storm'
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT3+shtml/102035.shtml

Tropical Storm Chantal

As the storm approaches, we'll get inundated with  updates. You can follow along with updates directly from NOAA by watching this page  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/