000 NOUS41 KBOX 251753 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-261800 PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 200 PM EDT THU OCT 25 2012 ...POTENTIALLY LARGE STORM SYSTEM TO HIT SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND-- PREPARATION RECOMMENDATIONS... DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FROM THE UPCOMING INTENSE COASTAL STORM... WE HAVE DECIDED TO POSTPONE WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS STATEMENTS AND GIVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS STORM. WHETHER THE STORM STILL IS REFERRED TO AS SANDY OR WHETHER IT EVOLVES INTO A SEVERE NOREASTER... THE IMPACT WILL STILL BE SIGNIFICANT. COASTAL RESIDENTS... - THIS STORM WILL BE VERY LARGE AND THE WIND FIELDS COULD BEGIN TO AFFECT US WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE ACTUAL STORM CENTER. BUILD EXTRA TIME INTO YOUR PLAN OF ACTION. - KNOW YOUR EVACUATION ROUTES AND THE PROPER SHELTERS FOR YOUR AREA. CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL TOWN HALL TO SEE IF YOU ARE IN AN EVACUATION ZONE. - MOST SHELTERS WILL NOT ALLOW PETS. MAKE ARRANGEMENTS AHEAD OF TIME FOR A PLACE FOR YOUR PETS TO STAY. SOME ANIMAL HOSPITALS OFFER TO KEEP PETS UNTIL YOU ARE ABLE TO RETURN HOME. - KNOW WHERE YOUR GAS AND WATER SHUTOFFS ARE. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU TURN OFF BOTH YOUR GAS AND WATER BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME. - IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO HEAD TO A SHELTER...MAKE ARRANGEMENTS NOW WITH RELATIVES OR FRIENDS IF YOU WISH TO STAY WITH THEM SHOULD YOU NEED TO EVACUATE. THE MARINE COMMUNITY... - NOW IS THE TIME TO INSPECT YOUR LINES. - IF YOU ARE ANCHORED IN A MOORING FIELD...INSPECT THE CHAIN BETWEEN YOUR PENNANT AND THE MOORING. SALT WATER BEGINS TO CORRODE THESE CHAINS AFTER JUST 2 SEASONS IN THE WATER. BUT THIS IS OFTEN UNSEEN BY THE BOAT OWNER. - BOAT OWNERS SHOULD HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY GEAR ON BOARD TO PROPERLY TIE DOWN THE VESSEL. YOU WILL LOSE PRECIOUS TIME IF YOU HAVE TO RUSH AROUND SEARCHING FOR GEAR WHEN A STORM IS APPROACHING. - REALIZE THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PULL YOUR BOAT OUT OF THE WATER BEFORE A STORM THREATENS. YOUR ONLY ALTERNATIVE WILL BE TO TIE THE VESSEL DOWN. - HAVE A PLAN WORKED OUT WITH THE MARINA OPERATOR SO THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS OR ANY CONFUSION WHEN THE TIME COMES TO TIE UP OR PULL THE BOAT OUT OF THE WATER. - BE SURE TO TAKE PICTURES AND MAKE A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE VESSEL...SO THAT THIS MAY BE USED AFTER THE STORM PASSES FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES. - ENSURE THAT YOUR VESSEL IS AS WATERTIGHT AS POSSIBLE. - WHEN YOU ARE THROUGH...HELP YOUR NEIGHBOR. IT ONLY TAKES ONE POORLY TIED BOAT IN A MARINA TO DESTROY THE ENTIRE DOCK. INLAND RESIDENTS... - BE SURE TO HAVE PLENTY OF BATTERIES ON HAND FOR FLASHLIGHTS... AM/FM RADIOS...AND YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO. - EXPECT PROLONGED POWER OUTAGES. SO...BE SURE TO HAVE CANNED FOOD AND OTHER ITEMS ON HAND THAT DO NOT NEED REFRIGERATION. TURN THE REFRIGERATOR DOWN TO THE COLDEST SETTING. - IF YOU OWN A PORTABLE GENERATOR...BE SURE IT IS PROPERLY HOOKED INTO THE POWER SUPPLY. IF IT IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED...IT MAY DO DAMAGE TO THE MAIN POWER SUPPLY. BE SURE TO USE IT PROPERLY TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. - STORE PLYWOOD AND PLENTY OF NAILS SO THAT YOU CAN QUICKLY BOARD UP WINDOWS ON OPEN FACING SIDES OF YOUR HOME. DO NOT USE MASKING TAPE TO TAPE WINDOWS...IT WILL NOT HELP. - THOSE LIVING ALONG FLOOD PRONE RIVERS AND STREAMS SHOULD BE READY TO HEAD TO HIGHER GROUND SHOULD FLOODING OCCUR. - IN CASE OF THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT YOU MUST EVACUATE...KNOW WHERE YOUR NEAREST STORM SHELTER IS LOCATED...AND THE QUICKEST ROUTE TO IT. FOLLOWING THESE SIMPLE STEPS WILL HELP MAKE WHAT CAN BE A VERY STRESSFUL AND DIFFICULT TIME GO A BIT MORE SMOOTHLY. $$ VALLEE/DUNTEN/FIELD NWS TAUNTON