PLYMOUTH — Chief Neil Foley and Emergency Management Director Christian Horvath would like to provide residents with the following update regarding Hurricane Lee.
According to the National Hurricane Center, tropical storm conditions from Lee are expected to begin across parts of coastal New England Friday afternoon. Lee is forecast to pass offshore of southern New England, but its impacts will extend far from the storm’s center, mainly affecting the Massachusetts coastline. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for coastal Massachusetts.
As reported at 8 a.m., Hurricane Lee will bring wind, rain, and coastal flood impacts to eastern Massachusetts tonight into Saturday, especially Cape Cod and the Islands. Up to a quarter-inch of rainfall is expected along and east of I-95. Areas of minor flooding are also possible along east coastal Massachusetts during high tide.
The primary hazard of concern with Lee for Southern New England is wind and high surf. Dangerous surf with large breaking waves will occur along the Massachusetts coast along with dangerous rip currents at ocean beaches. Wind speeds are expected to increase tonight with the peak of the wind after midnight into Saturday afternoon.
With wind being the primary concern, power outages are possible. Residents should report all power outages directly to Eversource and not assume that the outage has already been reported.
Plymouth officials offer the following tips to prepare for power outages:
- Do not call 9-1-1 to report an outage or to ask about power restoration.
- Use flashlights instead of candles. Ensure you have fresh batteries available.
- Report power outages to your utility company. Utility companies may not deploy to address power outages while winds are above certain speeds.
- The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency recommends purchasing a generator to maintain electricity in an outage. NEVER run a generator indoors, in a garage, or with the exhaust facing the home or home air intakes.
- 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.
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