MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Tel: 508-820-2000
Fax: 508-820-2030
Website: www.mass.gov/mema
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Peter Judge
(508) 820-2002
"The sometimes forgotten threat associated with hurricanes,
particularly in our inland communities is flooding," stated Massachusetts
Emergency Management Agency Acting Director Ken McBride. "The west side of
the eye of a hurricane, as it moves northward along the Atlantic Coast, is the
'wet side', as the storm's counterclockwise winds draw moisture from the ocean,
potentially depositing torrential rains far inland."
Intense rainfall is not directly related to the wind speed of tropical
cyclones. In fact, some of the greatest rainfall amounts occur from weaker
storms that drift slowly or stall over an area. A tropical storm can produce
more rainfall than a Category 5 hurricane.
As all hurricanes weaken to tropical storms and move inland, the threat
of torrential rains and high winds over large areas intensify the risks of
flooding.
Although weakened to a tropical storm prior to its arrival in the
Commonwealth, in 1999, most of Hurricane Floyd's impact was rain and flood
related, causing severe damage as far west as the Berkshires. In fact, some of our most devastating
flooding associated with these historic storms has occurred in Central and
Western Massachusetts, as up to 17" fell in association with the 'Hurricane
of 1938' and 25" of rain fell over a 5-day period in August 1955 from
'Connie & Diane' which reached Massachusetts as Tropical Storms. During
that period, the City of
While storm surge is always a potential coastal threat associated with
hurricanes, more people died from inland flooding over the past 30-plus years.
Since the early 1970s, freshwater flooding has accounted for more than half
(59%) of
These floods are why 63% of
SAFETY TIPS TO REMEMBER
. Have a Family Disaster Kit
. Develop a Family Communication Plan
. Educate yourself about your community's Emergency Management Plan,
including potential evacuation routes and locations of public shelters.
. Learn your vulnerability to flooding.
. In highly flood-prone areas, keep materials on hand like sandbags,
plywood, plastic sheeting, plastic garbage bags, lumber, shovels, work boots
and gloves.
. Be aware of streams, drainage channels and areas known to flood, so you
or your evacuation routes are not cut off.
. As a storm approaches, continually monitor the event on local Media.
. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
. Avoid driving into water of unknown depth; as little as 6" of
water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
. Avoid downed power lines.
Assumed a downed wire is a live wire.
. Have flood insurance. Flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners
insurance. Do not make assumptions. Check your policy. The National Flood
Insurance Program is a pre-disaster flood mitigation and insurance protection
program. The National Flood Insurance Program makes federally backed flood
insurance available to residents and business owners.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency
responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private
resources during emergencies and disasters in the
GOVERNOR PATRICK
Local Contact:
Brian Carlson, M.S.
Health Inspector
Conservation Agent
Deputy Emergency Manager
Town of
Phone: 508-487-7000 ext. 537
Email: bcarlson@provincetown-ma.gov