Important safety reminders:
Do not use candles if power goes out due to fire danger. Use approved flashlights and lanterns.
Make sure heater vents are clear of snow and generators are vented away from homes. CO is a silent killer!
Make sure heater vents are clear of snow and generators are vented away from homes. CO is a silent killer!
Always assume downed power lines are live
Check on elderly. Hypothermia is a real concern where power and heat is out
Check on elderly. Hypothermia is a real concern where power and heat is out
CWN Storm Team Coverage of the Blizzard of '13
CAPE COD - One of the worst storms in recent memory has battered the region with snow and high winds.
Snowfall/wind reports Local Storm Damage ReportsCAPE COD - One of the worst storms in recent memory has battered the region with snow and high winds.
Check here for continuing coverage as long as our utilities remain up. For Friday's coverage click here.
11:00 p.m. update: 2-alarm fire in Bourne, CO scare in Provincetown
A two-alarm fire tore through a house in the Buzzards Bay section of Bourne shortly before 10 p.m. Flames were pouring out of 28 Harrison Avenue when crews arrived. They quickly went to a defensive operation. Mutual aid from Onset and Plymouth assisted at the scene. The homeowner was taken to Tobey Hospital in Wareham for evaluation. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
A two-alarm fire tore through a house in the Buzzards Bay section of Bourne shortly before 10 p.m. Flames were pouring out of 28 Harrison Avenue when crews arrived. They quickly went to a defensive operation. Mutual aid from Onset and Plymouth assisted at the scene. The homeowner was taken to Tobey Hospital in Wareham for evaluation. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Meanwhile, tragedy was averted by a carbon monoxide detector in Provincetown. Fire officials discovered high levels of the odorless, potentially deadly, gas in an apartment complex on Old Ann Page Way around 10:30 p.m. Three occupants were evaluated by EMTs as a pecaution. Power had recently been retsored but the vent of the gas heating system was blocked by snow causing the buildup of CO gas.
Some progress being made in power restoration with 98,600 customers still out at this hour.
8:30 p.m. update: We are the lucky ones! Power and heat is back on in most of Provincetown after about 24 hours. It is an agonizingly slow process of getting power back on. 115,000 customers are still out at this hour, down only slightly from our last report. Local police and fire crews have been straight out with a myriad of storm related calls. Kudos to all the public safety personnel who have been working non-stop to get people to shelters and warming centers to avoid hypothermia. Please use common sense if you are staying home and using alternate heating methods. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Peak wind gust was 77 MPH in Barnstable with highest snowfall of 17 inches in East Sandwich. Many drifts are considerably higher.
3:00 p.m. update: CAPE COD's "Sandy!" We may have escaped the coastal devastion, but the power issue is critical with a frigid night on tap. 130,000 customers are still out at this hour, barely changed from this morning. This included pretty much the entire outer Cape. Repairs will take days in many areas. We were in the car on the mobile wi-fi but now we have posted this photo of the amazing scene on Shore Road in the Beach Point section of Truro where several utility poles are leaning precariously over the road. Ironically these poles were just replaced a couple of years ago in the hopes of staving off such disaster. The morning tide did cause some flooding in Sandwich and Dennis but fortunately it was not devasting as feared. Emergency generators have been taxed. The generator at the Nauset Regional High School shelter failed for a time but is reportedly back in service. At least two public safety facilities also experienced generator trouble overnight.
A house in Yarmouth at 29 Washington Avenue caught fire around 9 a.m. Crews were able to quickly get the fire under control. Two occupants were taken to Cape Cod Hospital tor evaluation of smoke inhalation.
Cape Codders will need to work together to get through this. Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly. Fear is high of people getting hypothermia from lack of heat.
Provincetown officials have opened the town hall as a warming and charging center. Sorry no pets..
The BCREPC issued the following statement:
The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (REPC) announces the following status of the regional shelters and the procedure for those seeking transport to the shelters.
Shelter Status:
1. The Sandwich High School regional shelter will close.
2. Clients currently at the Sandwich High School shelter will be transported to the Falmouth High School shelter.
3. The Falmouth High School shelter will be upgraded from a community shelter to a regional shelter.
4. The Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School regional shelter will maintain its current status.
5. The Nauset Regional High School regional shelter will maintain its current status.
Transporation:
The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will provide transportation to expedite the movement of clients to and between shelters.
Anyone in need of transportation to the regional shelter system should contact the RTA at the following number: 508-385-1437. (Police and fire personnel make take the information and relay to the RTA.) When calling for transportation be prepared to provide the following information:
1. Name and phone number of person requesting transport
2. Exact address with town and cross street if possible
3. Client mobility--does the client require a walker or wheelchair
5. Medical needs including the use of oxygen
6. Will the transport of a pet be required
For those seeking sheltering , the American Red Cross suggests clients have enough of what they need for three days and suggests bringing the following items to the shelter: medications, glasses, emergency contact card, flashlight, sanitation/personal hygiene items, cell phone and charger, emergency blanket, extra cash, and pet food/kitty litter for those with pets (caged or on leash)
We will report in as we can.
A large tree totally blocked the east end of normally busy Bradford Street in Provincetown
6:15 a.m. update: Snow will continue for several more hours. Attention will be turning to the shoreline where the tide is coming back in and moderate to major flooding is feared especially in the Sandwich area. Power outages have leveled off but the damage is done and will take some time, perhaps days, to repair. A generator at the Windsor Nursing Home in Yarmouth failed and rescuers were preparing to move the 15 residents out but fortunately technicians were able to repair the generator and get it going so the residents could stay put.
Editors note: It may be a while before we are able to report in again. Thanks for your patience and stay safe.
4:15 a.m. update: Over 136,000 NSTAR customers in the dark. Power restoration likely to take days. 83 MPH wind gust off Cuttyhunk, 77 in Barnstable. 7.7 inches of snow in Barnstable. Blowing and drifting a problem now as well.
2:30 a.m. update: Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills firefighters called to battle a house fire at 32 Columbia Avenue in Marstons Mills. All occupants escaped safely but there was extensive damage to the house. Widespread power outages now with 110,000 customers out.
1:00 a.m. update: Power outages becoming widespread with nearly 90,000 customers in the dark. Peak wind gust of 74 MPH at a buoy in Buzzards Bay. Highest snowfall so far 6 inches in East Sandwich. According to the Weather Service, the late evening high tide submerged the boardwalk in Sandwich and parts of Boardwalk Road were also flooded. The late morning tide is astronomically higher and prompting even greater concern,
12:00 a.m. update: Extensive power outages across the Cape. About 68,000 NSTAR customers are out. Numerous reports of trees down with wires. A handful of reports where trees snapped utility poles. Some reports of trees down on cars. Centerville Fire checking report of tree down on roof of house.
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