SWANSEA — The town of Swansea announces that its temporary storm shelter at Joseph Case High School closed late this afternoon.

With the most significant impacts of the storm now passed, Swansea officials have concluded operations at the shelter that opened this morning as a precaution.

 

###

SWANSEA —  The Town of Swansea announces it has opened a shelter for residents in need of safe refuge from Henri.

The shelter, located at Joseph Case High School, 70 School St., opens at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Residents planning to utilize the shelter should bring the following items:

• Important documents- IDs, health cards, etc.
• Any special food needed if on a special food diet
• One weeks’ worth of any medication including instruction and separate listing of same
• Cell phone charger
• Change of clothing (according to season) Also sweaters/sweatshirts
• Pillow(s) if desired
• Flashlight, portable radio, and hearing aids (all with fresh batteries)
• Personal items for hygiene care (toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, washcloth, towels, etc.)
• Books, cards, games, puzzles to help pass the time
• Diapers, wipes, baby food, formula if necessary – Pack & Play if available and desired
• Contact person info in case of emergency , including physicians
• Durable medical supplies (ex. Oxygen tanks, walkers, etc.)
• Pet food, supplies, tags, crates, if needed
• Personal valuables may be brought however shelter assumes no responsibility for them
• No alcoholic beverages, weapons, tobacco products of any type are allowed in the shelter
• No E-cigarettes allowed
• If you have a caretaker, that person should accompany you
• If you have a visiting nurse, that person should be notified of your whereabouts
• Eyeglasses with spare
• Keys

The shelter will be staffed by public safety personnel, and will remain open until further notice.

###

SWANSEA —  The Town of Swansea is recommending that residents stay alert and prepare to take the necessary safety precautions as Hurricane Henri is expected to track toward New England in the coming days.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Henri is moving west-northwest over the western Atlantic and is currently forecast to make landfall in southern New England Sunday. It was upgraded to a hurricane this morning.

Swansea residents should follow town social media pages for updates throughout the storm, and should sign up for the town’s emergency messaging system for timely updates on storm impacts in town. To sign up, click here.

During tropical storms and hurricanes, Swansea is vulnerable to several hazards, including power outages, damaging winds, downed trees and flooding in low-lying areas. Swansea officials expect many of these impacts as a result of Hurricane Henri, and strongly recommend residents in low lying areas, including Little Neck, Gardeners Neck, Ocean Grove, Touisset and Old Providence evacuate as a precaution.

Residents of these streets should relocate for the impending storm:

• Island Road
• Pine Grove Avenue
• Old Providence Road
• Barneyville Road
• Warren Avenue
• New Meadow Road
• George Street
• Ocean Grove Avenue (with addresses 317 and higher)
• Cove Street
• Cole Street
• Bay Street
• Mildred Avenue
• Pond Street
• Lees River Avenue
• Sea View Avenue
• Touisset Avenue
• Todd Street
• Davis Street
• Mount Hope Avenue
• Pearse Road south of Mount Hope Avenue
• Weaver Street
• Wheatfield Avenue
• All roads on Little Neck Island

The center of Henri is expected to track toward western Massachusetts, but Swansea remains vulnerable due to its coastal location.

There is a potential for tropical storm or lower-end hurricane force winds along with rough seas. Ocean swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents, and Swansea’s emergency management officials are monitoring the storm’s track closely.

The Town of Swansea will make an announcement Sunday morning if conditions warrant opening an emergency shelter for residents seeking refuge from the storm.

Safety precautions residents should follow to prepare for a hurricane or tropical storm include:

• Don’t go out during a hurricane or tropical storm, if possible.
• 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-19 pandemic.
• Have an emergency food supply in case of a power outage. People should have supplies to sustain their families for at least 72 hours.
• 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.
• Pack a bag with important items in case you need to evacuate. Don’t forget to include needed medications and any valuable personal belongings.
• Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions and those who may need additional assistance.

In the event of a hurricane, residents are also encouraged to know if they live or work in a hurricane evacuation zone, develop a family emergency plan and create an emergency kit.

Residents are also encouraged to follow tips provided by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) 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. Flash floods are the number one cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.
• 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. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.

After a storm passes through the area, residents should 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. 

Additional tropical storm and hurricane safety tips offered by MEMA can be found here.

June 1 marked the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs through Nov. 30. Historically, most hurricanes and tropical storms that hit New England occur during August and September.

###