Hello to all..
***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES REMAINS ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO IMPACTS FROM MAJOR NOREASTER IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND***
***POWER SLOWLY BEING RESTORED HOWEVER OVER 300,000 REMAIN WITHOUT POWER IN MASSACHUSETTS AS OF 1PM TUESDAY***
***NON-COMMUNICATIONS SHELTER SUPPORT STILL NEEDED FOR THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON***
In the aftermath of the significant early season nor’easter, several shelters opened overnight to assist people that had no heat or electricity at their residence. Additionally, numerous roads remain blocked due to downed trees and wires, so it could be several hours if not days before the full impact of this storm is realized. If you have any pictures of storm damage, please continue to send them to pics at nsradio.org and credit will be given to the spotter when forwarding to media, emergency management, and the National Weather Service unless otherwise noted. Here is the latest Post Historic October Major Nor’easter Coordination message that includes the latest Local Storm Reports and Public Information Statements from NWS Taunton and other important resources that may be useful to people in the affected area:
Post Historic October Major Nor’easter Coordination Message #2: http://www.wx1box.org/node/1536
We have received another request for additional volunteers in the Town of Lexington where a shelter has opened at the Lexington High School on Waltham St. They are looking for more operators to assist with shelter operations, however please note that this is mostly a non-communications role. As of Tuesday Afternoon, much of Lexington remained without power and the shelter will remain open. If you are interested and/or available to assist with this request, please contact your EC/DEC who will forward your information to the proper contact. If conditions change throughout the day and the request is cancelled, we will let you know accordingly.
Most other communications infrastructure remains in-tact throughout the region although there have been localized groups supporting communications needs in isolated areas in Massachusetts. It is possible that additional requests may come in throughout the day and ARES leadership continues to closely monitor the situation in the event additional requests for support are in fact received.
Terry Stader-KA8SCP reported that Westford has one shelter open at the Blanchard Middle School and it is being staffed by the PART of Westford members who are also a part of Northern Middlesex County ARES working in conjunction with the Upper Merrimack Valley MRC. PART members along with the North Middlesex MA ARES team members having been providing services to this area Medical Reserve Team for many years. The shelter operation has seen upwards of 66 attendees at the peak to warm up, get a hot meal. Some return to their homes, still without power.
With almost 30% of the town still without power 3 days after the storm hit the region, the shelter will remain open for a number of days yet. The Cameron Senior Center is also open as a warm up center for residents which is also staffed by a ham radio operators. The Amateur Radio operators who are assisting to date: Hugh Maguire-N1QGE, Alan Martin-W1AHM, Ken Rolt-KB1FFM and Terry Stader-KA8SCP. The Eastern Massachusetts ARES leadership has offered Terry-KA8SCP additional Ham Radio support if he requires it.
It is expected that EMA ARES will remain on stand-by through at least Thursday Evening. We continue to compile a list of availability for ARESMAT deployment if needed for various local EOC’s, Red Cross, Salvation Army, NWS Storm Survey Teams, and hospitals as required. When sending your availability, please send the following: Name, Call-sign, License Class, Capability (HF / VHF / UHF), Availability, and any other special notes we should be aware of. We ask that as you contact your DEC, please send a copy of the message to aresmat@nsradio.org where multiple members of the EMA ARES Leadership will be able to access your availability. As always, keep your situational awareness level high for any updates from ARES leadership by checking your email for updates and our ARES web site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org and monitoring local SKYWARN/ARES/RACES frequencies for any updates on this developing situation.
What is ARES Stand-By mode?
ARES stand-by mode is to alert Amateurs within ARES that a mobilization is possible on a wide-scale and that some localized mobilizations are or could be taking place in isolated areas. It means to take a look at your Go-Kit and have batteries and equipment ready to go and charged up and take care of any requirements at home in case a mobilization is required and you can participate. Do NOT self-deploy. Wait for guidance from leadership for any deployment. It is an honor to be ready even if you don’t deploy for the event. Hopefully, this is just another exercise of our preparedness and capabilities. If not, the ARES leadership looks forward to working with you if any wide scale mobilization is required after the impact of this major storm to the region is fully understood.
The next update to this message will be issued no later than Thursday Morning. Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org