With Hurricane Lee churning northward in the Atlantic Ocean, the City of Boston and other New England communities are gearing up for anticipated impacts.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the entire coastlines of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Additionally, a hurricane watch is in place in Maine along the coast from Stonington to the Canadian border.
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Rain, wind, waves and storm surge are all being forecast for New England, with coastal communities taking the brunt of the storm. Lee's track has it offshore from Massachusetts, with an aim headed toward Maine and Atlantic Canada.
Preparations were in full effect Thursday morning, especially for boating communities along the coastline, like Quincy. Boatyards are making major changes to get ready for the storm.
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Boston lays out storm plan
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, alongside other city officials, held a news conference Thursday morning to announce preparations being made ahead of the storm. Lee isn't projected to make a direct hit over Boston, but impacts like rain, wind and flooding in low-lying areas were all on the city's radar. Wu likened expected conditions to a nor'easter.
The city's Emergency Operations Center was opened Thursday morning, and will be open through Sunday. The worst of the storm's effects in Boston were expected late Friday night into Saturday morning.
"Our top priority is to ensure we are keeping all of our community safe," Wu said. "We are paying particular attention to those areas of the city that are on the coast and tend to receive the brunt of flooding whenever we do get storms like this — neighborhoods like East Boston, Charlestown, the South End and the North End."
The city is coordinating with state and federal emergency agencies, utility companies, relief organizations, hospitals and the higher education community.
As for cancellations, school in Boston on Friday is not expected to be impacted. Some city-sponsored events on Saturday are being called off, but Open Streets in Dorchester on Sunday is still set to happen.
People were urged to avoid touching downed wires at all costs, and to report them to 911. Downed trees in the public right of way should be called in to 311. Bostonians were also asked clear catch basins near their homes.
A couple workers at Town River Marina told NBC10 Boston crews on Wednesday there were roughly 40 boats stored at all times, but they had been taking boats out of the water all week to place them into storage. The city of Quincy was giving a helping hand.
The marina workers hoped that impacts were minimal.
“I’m kind of hoping that it is kind of light, and I think it will stay light but obviously things can change I think we will be alright," Colm Geary said.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) recommends that people who may be impacted by storms like this make an emergency kit with food, water and other essentials, prepare for power outages and sign up for alerts and updates.
The Coast Guard has also urged people to stay away from shorelines during the storm.
New Bedford hurricane barrier may close
The South Coast city of New Bedford said that it will close its beaches, the CoveWalk, HarborWalk and boat ramps effective 8 p.m. Friday. The hurricane barrier in the harbor may be closed; that determination will be made by the Army Corps of Engineers.
