Barnstable County Facing Severe Weather Threats
- Coastal flood expected along north-facing shoreline at time of afternoon high tide
- At the height of the storm winds could gust at hurricane force
- Bitterly cold air will flow in behind the storm changing creating severe icing conditions
- Citizens should be prepared for power outages
- The Barnstable County MACC is online as of 8 a.m. Thursday
The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) held a conference call at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 4, 2018, for an update on the Storm Grayson weather forecast; a review of its current and potential effects; and an evaluation of the need for Barnstable County Regional Emergency Shelter system activation.
Weather Update: At 10 a.m. Cape Cod was primarily experiencing rain and heavy winds. The Outer Cape and Nantucket are experiencing hurricane-force gusts. Coastal flooding is a concern on the Bay side of Cape Cod during the afternoon high tide in the 12 noon to 1 p.m. timeframe from Sandwich to Dennis. Bitterly cold air will flow in behind the storm with a changeover from rain to snow and the creation of black-ice conditions on roadways.
Current and Potential Effects: Current power situation: Scattered power outages are occurring across Cape Cod. Coastal flooding: There is a serious potential for damage from coastal flooding for the north-facing shoreline of Cape Cod Bay from Sandwich to Dennis.
Sheltering: The BCREPC has asked that all Regional Emergency Shelter partners remain on a standby status. For information about preparedness and the Regional Shelter System visit the Barnstable County REPC website at www.bcrepc.org/sheltering
Public Safety: With the rapid drop in temperatures, road surfaces will become extremely slippery and travel is not advised. Citizens should ensure that they are prepared for power outages and bitterly cold temperatures.
MACC: The BCREPC Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) operated by the Barnstable County All Hazards Incident Management Team was operational as of 8 a.m. Thursday.