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Otis Emergency Management Committee
Emergency Meeting for Hurricane Irene preparations
Saturday, August 27th, 2011
1300 hours
Present: Roberta Sarnacki, Sandy Pinkham, Don Hawley, Don Chaffee, Chris Bouchard, Heather Venne
- Roberta announced that we would open the Emergency Shelter at the town hall. After some discussion, it was decided that 10 AM would be the time that it would open.
- Chris and Don H. went over the latest weather forecasts, which indicated that the Hurricane may be weakening. At last report, we were expected to get either a severe Tropical Storm, or a Level 1 hurricane. The most severe part of the storm should occur at approximately noon time tomorrow.
- Don H. went over staffing. Don C. has staff lined up to work at the shelter. It was decided that the transfer station would be closed tomorrow, and therefore Patty would be at the shelter to make coffee in the morning at 9:30. Chris states that he has called several excavators and contractors with dump trucks, and that all of them indicated that they would be willing to help if needed. The entire police department is available, and a schedule is made up for patrol, as well as staffing for the shelter, we will have 24 hour coverage available for the next 2 days. The fire department is ready to go as well, and they indicated that they will respond to emergency situations, as well as assist with flooded basements if no other priorities exist.
- Chris discussed some potentially problematic road areas. He stated that Gibbs Road at Route 23 may be a problem, because the beavers have dammed it up all the way to the turnpike. He stated that we should also keep an eye on the Reservoir Road bridge project.
- DCR has issued an emergency drawdown order of the Otis Reservoir due to Hurricane Irene. Chris stated that they initially pulled 2 boards, but that they decided to pull 3 in order to release the water faster.
- A “Blackboard Connect” message will be released, indicating that:
The Emergency Shelter at Town hall will open at 1000 hours tomorrow; that the transfer station will be closed tomorrow, but will be open regular hours on Monday; and that the FD Steak roast is still on for this evening. Roberta will draft the message and get in touch with Chris Morris.
- Heather and Roberta had discussed food and beverages for the shelter, and this morning Heather purchased coffee, muffins, pasta, and sauce at the shelter. We still have some canned items that were previously purchased.
- Roberta ordered cots from the Southern Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee. Don C. will send someone up to the G.B.F.D. to pick those up for us to borrow.
- The committee discussed residents who may need assistance in the storm. They were identified, and we checked in with them prior to the storm. The Police Dept. will also be checking on residents on the wellness list throughout the day tomorrow.
- Shelter signs are in, and the Police Dept. will put them up indicating the shelter is open tomorrow morning.
Otis Emergency Management Committee
Emergency Mtg-Hurricane Irene
Sunday, August 28, 2011
1100 hours
Present: Roberta Sarnacki, Sandy Pinkham, Don C., Don H., Chris Bouchard, Dan Hamill, Bryan Arnold, Heather Venne
- Chris gave everyone the updated list of MEMA phone numbers.
- Chris went over the current list of damaged and flooded roads. Becket and Gibbs road is totally closed. Becket Road would have to be accessed from Route 23 or from Merritt Rd.
- Several boats at the town beach have come loose and are now floating on the beach itself.
- The Reservoir is still extremely high, despite DCR pulling 3 boards. Water is coming across the road on lower Reservoir, where the river crosses, as well as at West Shore and Reservoir. Discussion ensued as to whether or not to evacuate lower Reservoir Road residents, due to the fact that if something should happen to Reservoir Road where the river crosses, these residents will be landlocked due to the bridge being closed. Roberta responded and spoke to all of the residents. One family is leaving, another has chosen to stay, and another house is unoccupied.
- Another BBC message will be sent out asking people to stay home, and to not go out if they don’t have to. It will indicate that the roads are severely flooded and several are closed. The water levels will continue to rise even after the rain stops.
Otis Emergency Management Committee
Emergency Meeting
Sunday, August 28, 2011
1400 hours
Present: Roberta, Sandy, Chris B., Don C., Don H., Dan Hamill
1. Chris provided updates with regards to damaged and closed roads. Route 8 South is now completely impassable South of Ryan Lane. It is closed in Sandisfield as well. Their end of Rt. 8 has significant flooding, as well as road damage. There are problems at Gibbs Road at Route 23, Becket Road and Gibbs Rd, Lee Westfield Road, Merritt Road, West Center Road, Reservoir Rd. Some cars have been stuck in flood waters, and required towing.
2. Three families on Ryan Lane were evacuated, due to some uncertainty about the dam at the Otis Woodlands lake. A mother and two children were put first into a cherry picker and a boat by the Otis Fire Department, and then finally into a waiting ambulance for transport to the emergency shelter. They were then transported by Police SUV to a relative’s residence in West Otis. At that time, Horns Flat was just barely passable on Route 23 as well.
Two other Ryan Lane families, each with 2 members, are staying in the shelter until it is deemed safe to return. Patty has made lunch and coffee for the shelter guests.
3. We will reconvene at 1700 hours to see what the status of the town is, and make a determination if we will need to keep the shelter open overnight.
Otis Emergency Management Committee
Emergency Meeting
1700 hours
Present: Roberta, Don H., Don C., Sandy, Heather, Dan, Bryan
- Roads are still severely flooded and damaged, but the rain and the worst of the storm seems to have passed us.
- The dam at OWL lake has been deemed safe, and the shelter guests have indicated that they would like to return home. We will wait an hour or so and see whether we are able to get through the flood waters on Route 8 to return them home, right now we probably could not get through them with the SUV. The guests have indicated that they would like to get as close to Ryan Lane as they can, and that they would wade in the water the rest of the way. Per Sandy, they need to wait a little bit until the current goes down.
- The thought is that we will close the shelter after these people have returned home in a couple of hours, provided that there are no new guests, and that the situation remains stable.
- Don thanked everyone for coming to the continuous meetings on this busy day, and taking time out from their own situations at home.
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