Prepare for Tropical Storm Henri as it is expected to intensify, make landfall

Aug 20, 2021

Stay alert. Stay prepared.

Tropical Storm Henri is expected to intensify into a hurricane and make landfall on Sunday.

Southern Plymouth County is currently under a Hurricane Watch and a Storm Surge Watch. There is a potential for tropical storm or lower-end hurricane force winds along with rough seas. The main hazards include damaging winds, flooding rain, and storm surge flooding.

The exact path and strength of the storm when it gets closer to New England are still uncertain.

Marion is requiring that permit-holding residents remove their vessels from sland Wharf and Old Landing docks, kayak racks and dinghy racks before noon on Saturday, Aug. 21.

The Mattapoisett Harbormaster’s Office strongly recommends that kayaks, paddleboards, dinghies, skiffs and other small vessels be removed from the water, taken away from the beach and off kayak racks.

Here are some precautionary measures you can take to prepare for the storm:

Stay inside if possible throughout the storm.

Check flashlights and portable radios to confirm they’re working. Fully charge your cell phone, laptop and any other devices before the storm.

Check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

If you own a car, make sure its gas tank is at least half full in the event you need to travel. Purchase a car phone charger so that you can charge your device if you lose power at your home.

Ensure that you have an emergency kit that has basic medicine and bandages.

Include disinfectants, hand sanitizer and other cleaning supplies that you may need in an emergency due to the covid pandemic.

Set your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings (remember to reset them back to normal once power is restored). During an outage, minimize the number of times you open the refrigerator or freezer door.

Prepare your home by securing or bringing in outdoor objects (patio furniture, children’s toys, trash cans, etc.) that could be swept away or damaged during strong winds or flooding. Also, elevate items in your basement in case of flooding, check your sump pump, unplug sensitive electronic equipment, park vehicles in areas that are unlikely to flood and remove boats from the water.

MEMA 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 prepared by packing a bag with important items in case you need to evacuate. Don’t forget to include needed medications and any valuable personal belongings.

Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions and those who may need additional assistance.

Develop a family emergency plan and create an emergency kit.

Follow tips provided by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency in the event of flooding.

Don’t attempt to drive through large puddles or on flooded roads, which could threaten your safety. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away.

If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.

If floodwaters rise around your car and the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.

Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers and creeks during heavy rainfall.

After a storm passes through the area, remain cautious. Heavy rain and strong winds can cause a multitude of problems like power outages, fallen debris and floods that often block roads and emergency vehicles, prolonging damage.

Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies, including downed power lines and gas leaks.

Stay away from downed utility wires. Always assume a downed power line is live.

If your power is out, follow MEMA’s power outage safety tips. Report power outages to your utility company. Do not call 9-1-1 to report an outage or to ask about power restoration.