Month: March 2018

City of Gloucester Conducting Early Damage Assessments Following Winter Storm Riley

~ Chris Sicuranza

GLOUCESTER — Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Eric Smith announce that the City of Gloucester has begun collecting reports on coastal storm damage caused by Winter Storm Riley earlier this month.

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The City of Gloucester is providing a new survey and reporting tool on the city’s website at www.Gloucester-MA.gov/storm. Residents and business owners are encouraged to submit their own property damage assessments and can do so online by clicking here.

The Primary Damage Assessment (PDA) will be conducted in cooperation with the Federal and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agencies (FEMA/MEMA). Residents, business owners and homeowners will have the opportunity to complete a survey of property damage caused by the nor’easter on March 2-4.

“Primary Damage Assessments must account for all losses in our community including public property and individual or private property, such as homes and businesses,” Fire Chief/EMD Smith said. “Having a comprehensive inventory of storm damage will be critical for the city as we look toward securing Federal Disaster Aid to alleviate some of the cost.”

Winter Storm Riley caused extreme winds, rain, storm surges and flooding in Gloucester, and city officials are working aggressively to calculate the extent of the damage to both public and privately owned properties.

Anyone whose property was impacted by the storm should fill out a PDA form online by clicking here or download and print a paper version.

Paper forms may also be obtained at City Hall, and should be submitted directly to the Mayor’s office either in person or by mailing it to: City Hall Office of the Mayor Attention: Storm 9 Dale Ave. Gloucester, MA 01930

“We are grateful for the dedication that Gloucester’s emergency teams continue to provide in offering assistance for on-going coastal recovery efforts,” said Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken. “Winter Storm Riley created damage for businesses and citizens alike so this self-reporting tool will help us centralize damage assessments needed for state and federal disaster aid programs. We are asking everyone in Gloucester to help report this information online using an easy survey system but hard-copies will be available, too.”

Even after completing the PDA, residents and business owners should plan on maintaining extensive records of any damage to their property. For more information, please visit: Gloucester-MA.gov/Storm

Gloucester City Offices 1 Hour Delay for Weds (3/14); Schools Closed Tomorrow

~ Chris Sicuranza

GLOUCESTER ALERT

Gloucester City Offices 1 Hour Delay for Weds (3/14); Schools Closed Tomorrow

(Updated) Gloucester has announced a 1 Hour Delay for City Offices (City Hall, Annex)tomorrow, Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Gloucester Schools are CLOSED tomorrow.

As always CALL 911 for any emergencies. Updates will be forthcoming so please check the City of Gloucester website and social media for further updates at http://www.gloucester-ma.gov.

TRASH PICKUP

Trash pickup will operate under a one-day delay / holiday schedule. Please see additional DPW notices for more information on the city’s website or call Public Works directly. Parking ban is effective as originally announced unless otherwise notified so please check for updates.

POWER OUTAGES

National Grid has been reporting power outages in different areas across the North Shore, including Gloucester. If any outages do occur in your area, it is imperative that they be reported via the National Grid Customer Service or Outage Reporting phone lines as listed below. Every outage phone call that we receive is logged into our outage tracking system and better enables us to pinpoint the location of the issue. The sooner National Grid can identify the location of the issue, the quicker a response can be sent.

The Customer Service Line is: 1-800-322-3223

The Outage Reporting Line is: 1-800-465-1212

REMINDERS/ SAFETY INFORMATION

All residents and businesses are reminded that they are responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks adjacent to their property.

Please make every effort to shovel out hydrants at or near your homes, and please check on your elderly and disabled.

Your cooperation during this snow emergency/parking ban is necessary for efficient and safe snow removal efforts, but please use the following links from state agencies for more insights:

Updates will be forthcoming so please check the City of Gloucester website and social media for further updates at http://www.gloucester-ma.gov.

Thank you for your assistance and stay safe.

Gloucester Snow Emergency & Parking Ban Declared Effective Tonight (3/12) at 10PM to Weds (3/14) at 6AM

~ Chris Sicuranza

GLOUCESTER EMERGENCY ALERT

Snow Emergency/Parking Ban Declared Tonight Mon. 10PM(3/12) to Weds. 6AM (3/14)

City Offices & Schools Closed Tues. (3/13)

WEATHER EMERGENCY UPDATE

Massachusetts will be impacted by a significant storm tonight into Tuesday evening with the potential for blizzard-like conditions and snowfall rates of 1-3” per hour. This storm could bring significant snowfall and strong coastal high winds with potential for power outages. Snow is expected to begin tonight and continue into Tuesday evening across much of Massachusetts. National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Warning for all of Massachusetts, and a High Wind Watch for Cape Ann, the eastern coastline, southern Bristol and Plymouth counties, and the Cape and Islands.

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PARKING BAN

Effective at 10 PM tonight, Monday, March 12, the city has declared a snow emergency and parking ban on all city streets due to expected significant snowfall and powerful wind gusts. Additionally, Gloucester schools & offices will be closed tomorrow and trash collection will be delayed one day.

We recommend that all citizens shelter at home and avoid all travel during the storm. Poor road conditions are expected across Tuesday and emergency teams need all streets clear to allow effective service. Gloucester will enforce an emergency parking ban across all city streets until 6 AM Wednesday, March 14th (unless updated otherwise). This parking ban means all vehicles are banned from parking on city streets. Residents may park in all municipal and school parking lots, but please be aware that citizens are solely responsible for any weather related liability at public parking lots.

Please use caution across this storm and call 911 for any emergencies.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

If you are in danger, CALL 911 FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE or call Gloucester Police Department at (978) 283-1212. Please note the following social services in the City will be open this weekend during the storm and frigid cold.

  • Action Inc. will be open all day Tuesday and Weds until 11 AM (978) 282-1000

In the event that you lose power or heat over the weekend, the City encourages residents to shelter in place, stay with a family/neighbor who has heat and contact the Gloucester Police Department immediately for any concerns about staying safe or warm. The police can assist you in finding a place to go with power and will be working with American Red Cross of Massachusetts to assist residents in need.

POWER OUTAGES

National Grid has been reporting power outages in different areas across the North Shore, including Gloucester. If any outages do occur in your area, it is imperative that they be reported via the National Grid Customer Service or Outage Reporting phone lines as listed below. Every outage phone call that we receive is logged into our outage tracking system and better enables us to pinpoint the location of the issue. The sooner National Grid can identify the location of the issue, the quicker a response can be sent.

REMINDERS/ SAFETY INFORMATION (via MEMA)

Updates will be forthcoming as the storm progresses. Please check the City of Gloucester website and social media for further updates at www.gloucester-ma.gov.

Thank you for your assistance and stay safe during this snow emergency. ~Chris

SeniorCare’s “Valentine” Breakfast this Friday (March 16)

~ trixy546

Former Valentine’s Day Event is now a Spring Celebration!

SeniorCare Inc. will hold its annual Fundraiser Breakfast at The Gloucester House this Friday, March 16, 2018, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.  Tickets are $12 per person and include a buffet breakfast. Proceeds from the breakfast will benefit SeniorCare’s Meals on Wheels program.  Tickets to the breakfast can be purchased online at www.seniorcareinc.org or at the door on March 16.