FRAMINGHAM, MA - To help increase public awareness of the effects hurricanes can have on the Commonwealth and the preparedness steps we all must take, over the next fourteen weeks the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) will again be disseminating important information to ensure the continued safety of our citizens and property.
“In recent years, we have witnessed the severity of these storms and their destructive power throughout other areas of the country, but fortunately, we here in New England have been spared,” stated MEMA Director Kurt Schwartz. “However, with another very active hurricane season predicted, we must continually prepare for the region’s next major storm.”
MEMA will be continually promoting Hurricane Preparedness through weekly news releases highlighting key issues relative to the New England Hurricane Season. In addition, there will continue to be workshops, exercises and drills to help local officials prepare. Important Hurricane Preparedness information will be available on the MEMA website at www.mass.gov/mema, Facebook and Twitter pages. Topics will include Massachusetts’ Hurricane History, Preparedness Tips for Families, Home Owners, People Requiring Additional Assistance, Pet Owners, Boaters, Businesses, Inland Residents, as well as information about Sheltering-In-Place and Evacuation.
Although the Hurricane Season in New England is defined as June 1st to November 30th, 75% of the 40 tropical systems that have impacted our region in the past century have struck during the months of August and September. The last severe hurricane to hit Massachusetts was Hurricane Bob in August 1991. Bob, a Category 2 Hurricane, with winds between 91 and 110mph, caused almost $1 billion in damage, at the time. More recently, Hurricanes Edouard (1996), Bonnie (1998), Bill (2009) and Earl (2010) threatened the Bay State, but veered out into the Atlantic as they traveled up the coast.
In 1999, Hurricane Floyd, although weakened to the strength of a tropical storm prior to its arrival in New England, demonstrated that these storms are not merely ‘coastal events’. Most of that storm’s impact was rain and flood related, causing severe damage as far west as the Berkshires.
Some of our most devastating flooding associated with these storms has occurred in Central and Western Massachusetts – up to 17” of rain fell in association with the Hurricane of 1938 and 25” of rain fell over a 5-day period in August 1955 from Connie & Diane, with the City of Westfield received 13.15” in a single day!
This demonstrates that the entire Commonwealth should take the proper Hurricane Season precautions.
Southern New England lies in the unenviable position of receiving all three “Hurricane Threats”, depending upon the track and landfall location: 1) Coastal inundation due to storm surge 2) Widespread inland river flooding and 3) Widespread wind damage far inland.
SCHEDULE OF “HURRICANE SEASON” TOPICS
Week of June 1 – Beginning of Hurricane Season
Week of June 6 – New England Hurricanes of Note
Week of June 13 – Family Hurricane Preparedness
Week of June 20 – Preparing Your Home for a Hurricane
Week of June 27 – Power Outages during a Hurricane
Week of July 4 – Evacuation for a Hurricane
Week of July 11 – Sheltering in Place during a Hurricane
Week of July 18 – Inland Flooding from a Hurricane
Week of July 25 – Hurricane Challenges for People Requiring Additional Assistance
Week of August 1 – Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan
Week of August 8 – Protecting Your Pets during a Hurricane
Week of August 15 – Preparing Your Business for a Hurricane
Week of August 22 – Preparing Your Boat for a Hurricane
Week of August 29 – After the Storm
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