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EMERGENCY PLANNING > REPC Featured > [January 14, 2022 – 3:30 PM] Media Alert 001:  Extreme Cold Weather and High Winds Expected  for Cape & Islands this Weekend  

[January 14, 2022 – 3:30 PM] Media Alert 001:  Extreme Cold Weather and High Winds Expected  for Cape & Islands this Weekend  

Published on: January 14, 2022

BCREPC Convened at 11:00 AM on Friday to discuss regional preparedness

January 14, 2022 (Barnstable, MA) – The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC), comprised of state, county, and local officials, first responders, emergency managers, elected officials, and other regional partners, met this morning at 11:00 AM to discuss regional response to the potential impact relating to the coastal storm today and tomorrow.

Weather Update

  • Current rain turns to snow later this afternoon with less than 1” of accumulation.
  • A High Wind Warning is in effect until 5:00 am on Saturday, January 15th
  • Possible 60-70MPH winds gusts, with some hurricane force winds 75MPH on the Outer Cape/Islands
  • Biggest impact occurs Friday evening and overnight, with winds slackening in the early Saturday morning hours, between 4:00 am and 5:00 am.
  • A Wind Chill Advisory/Warning will go into effect as a cold air mass settles in during the evening hours on Friday and wind chill likely drops into the minus double digits.
  • Coastal flooding is not a concern, although second storm approaching the region on Sunday and Monday impact the Cape & Islands.

The following preparations are currently underway:

The Multi Agency Coordination Center (MACC) will activate at 6:00 PM tonight and will remain open as needed; the MACC is ready to help towns and local agencies with resources, information, and regional coordination during the storm.

MEMA:  Operating at a Level I and continues to monitor the storm and issue Situational Reports.

Utilities: All Utility companies are on alert and have plans if additional crews will need to be deployed for this current storm or the second approaching storm anticipated Sunday into Monday.

Shelters: Power outages and cold temperatures are being monitored, and the regional shelter system is on standby. With the spike in Covid-19, we ask that individuals reach out to friends and family if they need shelter to minimize the risk of putting large numbers of people in a shelter. The American Red Cross, Medical Reserve Corps, AmeriCorps Cape Cod, Cape Cod Dart, Salvation Army, and Local CERT Teams are ready to support as needed. ‘In From the Streets’ Homeless Motel Program operates today and throughout the weekend. St. Joseph’s Homeless Shelter has opened additional beds on-site and at the motel in anticipation of the cold weather.

Personal preparedness tips and informational storm preparedness resources are provided at www.bcrepc.org.

About Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee: The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) is a coalition of law enforcement, fire service, health care, public health, public works, EMS, military, and numerous other affiliated agencies as outlined by the Massachusetts State Emergency Response Committee (SERC).  It represents the towns of Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet, and Yarmouth in Barnstable County, and the town of Nantucket in Nantucket County. The mission of the BCREPC is to harness the power of planning, cooperation, and interoperability to assist Cape Cod communities to mitigate the threat from any hazard which may require the response of multiple jurisdictions.

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