Hello to all…
*** EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES PLACED ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS EFFECTIVE 10:00AM MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8 THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM FORECASTED WINTER STORM/BLIZZARD ***
*** BLIZZARD WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR PLYMOUTH COUNTY, THE CAPE AND ISLANDS, AND A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE REST OF EASTERN MA AND RI ***
*** PRIMARY AREA OF CONCERN IS SOUTH OF BOSTON, HOWEVER RESOURCES MIGHT BE NEEDED FROM OTHER AREAS TO SUPPORT THE SOUTH SHORE ***
*** SKYWARN OPS AT NWS-TAUNTON TO COMMENCE AROUND 6:00AM MONDAY ***
With 8700 still without power in eastern Massachusetts and the effects of storm weakened utility lines and trees from last Friday’s storm there exists the potential of major power outages and additional damage across the region on Monday. There is a high confidence of blizzard conditions across southeast MA and the Cape/Islands and of at least scattered power outages in southeast MA. The greatest uncertainty currently is snow amounts west of the I-95 corridor into central MA, as a westward shift in the storm path could bring significant snowfall to the area.
Northeast wind gusts to 50–70 mph possible across Plymouth county, and the Cape and Islands with gusts to 35 mph further inland across the I-95 corridor. Pockets of moderate coastal flooding likely during late Monday morning high tide along the coast south of Boston to Nantucket. Minor costal flooding possible north of Boston through coastal Essex county.
Snow will develop along the south coast and Cape/Islands well after midnight, reaching Boston to Providence before daybreak. Heaviest snow Monday morning into early afternoon with rates of 1–2 inches per hour at times.
For further meteorological updates, including the latest Storm Coordination Message, please see the NWS Taunton SKYWARN home page at http://www.wx1box.org.
In advance of the storm, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC (SEC/DEC listed below) of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime over the weekend. We are creating 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. 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.
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. Also, please let us know if you can do an ARESMAT to another part of the Eastern Massachusetts section (specifically East Coastal and Southeast Mass/Cape Cod) as this area looks to be particularly hardest hit by this anticipated blizzard. We ask that as you contact your DEC, please send a copy of the message to hurricane@nsradio.org where multiple members of the EMA ARES Leadership will be able to access your availability.
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.
Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!
Respectfully Submitted,
Marek Kozubal (KB1NCG)
ARES Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator
SEC/ASEC:
SEC – KB1NCG – kb1ncg@arrl.net
ASEC – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
ASEC – KD1CY – kd1cy@comcast.net
DECs:
Essex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org
Middlesex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org
Metro-Boston – KC1DAB – kc1dab@gmail.com
Norfolk County – W3EVE – w3eve@arrl.net
Bristol County – KA1RSY – ka1rsy@comcast.net
Plymouth County – KA1RSY – ka1rsy@comcast.net
Cape & Islands – WQ1O – wq1o@comcast.net