With Hurricane Sandy fast approaching Boston, the Massachusetts government, private utility providers and New England residents are bracing for a big impact as the Boston area faces a high wind warning beginning Monday.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has suspended boat services for Monday, but will continue with regular bus, train and commuter rail service, as long as conditions remain safe enough for operation, according to the MBTA website.
MBTA’s RIDE service is also expected to run on Monday.
“The MBTA is preparing to deploy extra personnel and equipment throughout the system,” said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo in an email. “Where appropriate, crews and equipment are being pre-positioned to respond to issues as they occur. Work crews are ready to respond to any storm-related issues that may emerge.”
Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick and other government officials are relying on the contingency plan of the state’s Department of Public Utilities, which has ordered that private service providers be prepared to restore service to customers in the quickest, safest manner possible, according to a press release from The Office of The Governor.
“We have been in close contact with the national weather service and are coordinating with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, all of our state agencies and the utility companies to make sure we are ready for Hurricane Sandy’s potential impact here in the Commonwealth,” Patrick said at a press conference on Friday.
Each major utility company submitted an emergency master plan to the Department of Public Utilities, which is reviewing them to ensure that they conform to the government’s expectations for response, according to the press release.
“As forecasts of Sandy’s path become more defined, we’re continuing with our preparations for high winds and heavy rain that could severely affect our electric system and potentially cause widespread power outages,” said Werner Schweiger, president of NSTAR Electric, in a press release issued Sunday. “We’ve worked throughout the year enhancing our storm response plans, and we stand ready to address any damage as quickly and safely as possible.”
Hurricane Sandy was spinning off the coast of North Carolina as of Sunday evening and is expected to move north on Sunday night, reaching Massachusetts by Monday, according to a National Weather Service alert issued at about 5:50 p.m. on Sunday.
Boston is under a high wind warning from 6 a.m. on Monday to 6 a.m. on Tuesday, with winds at 35 to 45 mph and gusts of 75 mph, according to the NWS.
The strongest winds will occur on Monday afternoon and evening, according to the NWS, and fallen trees and power lines are expected to cause widespread power outages.
National Grid, a supplier of natural gas and electricity to the city, has also recognized the potential for service disruptions to Bostonians once Sandy hits.
“We have been urging customers to take precautions and prepare for the worst case scenario,” said Kathy Lyford, National Grid New England vice president of Operations in a press release issued Sunday. “Customers should prepare for the possibility of extended power outages. If there is extensive flooding along the New England coast, there also could be natural gas service interruption.”
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has instructed all public safety agencies, including the fire and police departments, to outfit themselves with more personnel and equipment, according to a press release issued Sunday.
Additionally, all state office buildings have been shutdown on Monday and all non-emergency state workers have been directed to stay home from work on Monday.
MEMA has issued tips for citizens dealing with Hurricane Sandy.
“Early planning and preparation can be the key to your safety,” said MEMA Director Kurt Schwartz in an Oct. 24 press release. “It is important to use your time wisely and not wait until the last minute to ensure your family’s safety.
MEMA recommends that victims of the storm prepare by trimming trees near residences, clearing rain gutters, protecting windows and doors with plywood and learning how to safely shut of utilities, among others.
This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors to post archived posts from previous iterations of the site or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.
