The Summer seemed to take forever to get here this year, but it is finally here. Officially the Summer season doesn’t start until June 21st, however, something else does start today. The 2011 Hurricane Season.
The National Hurricane Center is predicting a very active season with 80 named storm days, 16 named storms, 9 hurricanes with 5 major hurricanes. It doesn’t sound like high numbers, but compared to the average:
Probabilities for at least one major hurricane to make landfall on the U.S. coastline: 72% (average for last century is 52%). Probabilities and statistics all point at the change from the relatively inactive hurricane seasons of the past few years to a very active hurricane season in 2011.
You’ve heard it, read it, even thought about it. But have you done it?
FEMA has joined with DisasterAssistance.govand Citizen Corps to host the Ready.gov website. It’s an interactive planning guide that can be made for business, home or your family. Even kids can help with the planning with a site specially made for them.
Once you have your plan set, there is one other thing that Cape & Islands residents and visitors should know:
Bourne & Sagamore Bridges
Once wind gusts reach 70mph: Restricted access (Emergency Vehicles only) onto Cape Cod at Routes 6 (Sagamore Bridge) and 28 (Bourne Bridge). All rotary traffic will be one way – no cross traffic. Meaning, if you go over the Bourne Bridge, Route 25/ 495 is the only way you can go. Same with traveling over the Sagamore Bridge- Route 3 will be your only option. This is to improve the traffic flow off the Cape and to keep it moving.
Once the sustained winds reach 70mph: both bridges will close for ALL Traffic. All remaining Cape & Islands population will be instructed to find shelter within their homes, at a local Mass. care shelter, a Red Cross Shelter, or as a last resort, the retrofitted barracks on the Mass Military Reservation until the storm passes.
Rollshutters, VuSafe Panels or Hurricane Fabric, to knowing where and when to evacuate. Be ready, just in case. Speak with one of our Product Specialists to discuss your project - Call 800-522- 1599
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