Region ?Hurricane Sandy has strengthened over the last 12 hours and taken on a more tropical storm characteristic, according to the National Weather Service. The heaviest winds are expected between 3 p.m. and midnight tonight. Scattered power outages and downed trees have been reported already throughout the region.
Here is the latest news reported by officials in four C.A. readership municipalities:
Marlborough – City officials participated on another conference call this afternoon with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service. We anticipate the most severe weather to occur during the 3 p.m. – midnight time frame. Wind gusts are expected to reach 80 m.p.h.
The City utilized its “Blackboard Connect” emergency notification system on Sunday to provide an update to residents about the city's storm response. Additional updates will continue to be made available on the City of Marlborough homepage (www.marlborough-ma.gov) as well as the city's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/cityofmarlborough).
The Marlborough Fire Department will serve as the city's Emergency Operations Center. Additionally, emergency shelters will be made available to city residents if the need arises. Marlborough's Medical Reserve Corps have been preparing for several days to plan their response should their services be required.
Resources for Residents
Residents who have not already done so should sign up for our Emergency Alert Notification system. Please visit www.marlborough-ma.gov? and click on the “Sign up now / Blackboard Connect” icon on the left. There you can sign up to receive additional alerts by email or text message or via your cell phone.
Downed Power Lines
Please call the Marlborough Police Department's non-emergency line at (508) 485-1212. Residents are asked to stay as far away as possible from any down lines. Please call 911 for ANY emergencies.
National Grid Customer Service/Outage Calls: 800-322-3223
Northborough – Branches are starting to come down as the winds are increasing, no road closures, but minor flooding starting on Main Street (Rte. 20) and Hudson Street in the area of the Aqueduct. The State and Town Highway Departments have been notified and are responding to clear the storm drains.
?In the event of power outages, residents are advised of the following:
Access to potable water is available from the spigot at the following locations:
– Northborough Cemetery – located on Howard Street (across from the ZEH School)
– Northborough Community Gardens – located at 71 Valentine Road
Disposal of storm related tree debris
Residents may dispose of brush up to 6″ in diameter at the Highway Garage, 190 Main Street, between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Friday, November 9th and Saturday, November 10th, and Friday, November 16th and Saturday, November 17th.
The brush drop-off is for Northborough residents only and no commercial vehicles will be permitted. Proof of residency is required. Residents should not stack storm debris at the roadside. There will be no roadside debris pick up; all debris should be taken to the Highway Garage as specified above.
Southborough– Tree down across Woodland Road near Route 9. Road is not passable. DPW has just arrived on scene to begin cutting tree. Pine Hill closed around #87. Parmenter closed near Primate Center toward Marlborough. Oregon Road no through traffic into Ashland. Arching wires currently on Willow near the New England Center for Children. Flagg Road closed between Blackthorn and Route 9. Framingham Road closed near East Main St due to downed tree and wire. Marlborough Road closed at St Mark's School from a tree blocking the road.
Westborough – NGrid is estimating 44 Westborough customers without power. Nourse Street appears to be hardest hit with trees down and wires in the roadway. Nourse Street from Jasper Street to Glen Street was shut down for over an hour awaiting NGrid to remove the wires from a downed tree. The roadway is open once again. At this time the Westborough High School shelter has not been opened. Biggest part of the storm will impact us starting at approximately 3 PM. We had a wind gust at the Fales School at 43 mph. Sustained winds are in the lower 20's. 50 residents are without power at this point.