Mayor Mitchell Declares State of Emergency in New Bedford

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Mayor Jon Mitchell declared a State of Emergency in the City of New Bedford as of 1:00PM today, January 26, 2015. Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ordered a statewide travel ban at midnight tonight.

The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for Southern Bristol County including the City of New Bedford from 7:00 P.M. today, Monday, January 26, 2015 until Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 1:00 A.M. A crippling and potentially historic blizzard will impact the area mainly from late today into Tuesday and lingering into early Wednesday.

The forecast calls for heavy snow, strong winds and blizzard conditions beginning late today and lingering into early Wednesday. The most severe portion of the storm will be tonight through Tuesday afternoon. Snowfall rates of 2 to 4 inches an hour are possible at times. A total of 20 to 30 inches of snow accumulation with locally higher amounts is predicted for the New Bedford area. Sustained winds from the North/Northeast of 15-25mph with gusts of 65-75MPH are likely. Heavy snow and strong winds will result in white-out or blizzard conditions with near zero visibility.

The National Weather Service issues a blizzard warning when sustained winds or frequent gusts over 35 mph are expected with considerable falling and/or blowing and drifting snow. Visibilities will become poor with whiteout conditions at times. Those venturing outdoors may become lost or disoriented, so persons in the warning area are advised to stay indoors.

All unnecessary travel is discouraged beginning Monday afternoon to allow people already on the road to safely reach their destination before the heavy snow begins and to allow snow removal equipment to begin to treat and clear the roadways.

Citywide Snow Emergency Parking Ban as of 6 P.M. Today, Monday, January 26, 2015

The City of New Bedford has announced a citywide snow emergency parking ban to take effect today (Monday, January 26, 2015) as of 6:00 P.M. The parking ban will be strictly enforced and will remain in effect for 48-hours thereafter, unless lifted or further extended by City officials. The parking ban is designed to allow City workers to efficiently remove snow from New Bedford roadways to allow public safety vehicles and residents to travel safely.

While the snow emergency parking ban is in effect, parking is permitted on the side of the street that is opposite the fire hydrants. No vehicle should be parked on the same side of the street as a fire hydrant, except on streets that are regularly posted for parking on one side of the street only. In posted areas, residents are to obey the signs as usual.

The citywide parking ban will be double-sided in both the Acushnet Avenue Business District and the Downtown Business District. Downtown parking is available at no charge in the Elm Street and the Zeiterion Parking Garages.

Violations of this parking regulation will be subject to ticketing at $50 per ticket and towing at full cost to the owner of the vehicle towed. The vehicle owner is also responsible for the full cost of storage for any towed vehicle.

The City of New Bedford has designated the following areas as preferred parking areas for those residents in need of off-street parking while the emergency snow parking ban is in effect:

· Victory Park – Brock Avenue
· Hazelwood Park – Brock Avenue
· Roosevelt Middle School – Brock Avenue and Dennis Street
· Cove Street Parking Lot – Cove Street and Morton Court
· Orchard Street at Camara Soccer Field
· Congdon School – Thompson and Hemlock Street
· Buttonwood Park Parking Area – Hawthorn Street Side and Lake Street Side
· Former St. Mary’s Home – Entrance on Mill Street
· Coggeshall Street Parking Lot – Coggeshall Street and Acushnet Avenue
· Sawyer Street Parking Lot – Between Sawyer Street and Beetle Street
· Brooklawn Park Parking Area – Brooklawn Street (South Side)
· Normandin Middle School – Tarkiln Hill Road
· Jireh Swift School – Tarkiln Hill Road
· Campbell School – Phillips Road
· Riverside Park Lot – Coffin Avenue
· Coffin Avenue Lot- Across from Taber Mills Apartments
· Alma del Mar Charter School (former Ottiwell School) – 26 Madeira Avenue
· Former AVX site on Bellville Avenue at Hadley Street
· Philips Avenue School – 249 Phillips Avenue
· DeValles School – 120 Katherine Street
· Parker School – 705 County Street
· Elm Street Garage
· Zeiterion Garage – 688 Purchase Street

New Bedford Public Schools-Closed Both Tuesday, January 27, 2015 and Wednesday, January 28, 2015
All after-school activities including all adult education and evening classes are cancelled for this evening, Monday, January 26, 2015. In addition, all New Bedford Public Schools and administrative offices will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27, 2015 and Wednesday, January 28, 2015. Please monitor local media and the New Bedford Public Schools website www.newbedfordschools.org for updates.

New Bedford City Offices-Closed Both Tuesday, January 27, 2015 and Wednesday, January 28, 2015
City offices will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27, 2015 and Wednesday, January 28, 2015 including City Hall, the public libraries, senior centers and the Buttonwood Park Zoo. Only City employees designated as essential should report to work. All New Bedford Public Library Branches will be closing at 5PM today, Monday, January 26, 2015. New Bedford Regional Airport will close at 6PM Monday, January 26, 2015. Passengers should contact their air carriers directly to confirm their flight status because widespread cancellations are expected.

Delay in Residential Trash Collection
There will be no residential trash collection on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 or Wednesday, January 28, 2015. ABC Disposal will operate trash collection this week on a two-day delay. If your trash is normally collected on Tuesday it will be collected on Thursday, if normally collected on Wednesday it should be set curbside on Friday, if normally collected on Thursday it will be collected on Saturday, if normally collected on Friday it should be set curbside on Sunday.

Pilgrim United Church to Open for Residents in Need of Shelter
Pilgrim United Church (634 Purchase Street) will open as of 7PM for unsheltered residents. The church will be equipped with staff, food and cots. The church shelter will remain open throughout the day on Tuesday, January 27, 2015.

Keith Middle School Mass Care Shelter to Open at 7PM
The Keith Middle School (225 Hathaway Boulevard) will serve as the “mass care shelter” for the City of New Bedford. Both the Keith and Pilgrim Church shelters are equipped with staff, food, and cots. Residents should bring blankets, prescription medication, home medical equipment, oxygen, and toiletries with them.
The Keith Middle School shelter is a “pet friendly” shelter. Residents are allowed to bring pets with them to the shelter when they evacuate. Individuals needing transportation to the Keith shelter should call the New Bedford Emergency Management at (508) 991-6386.

SRTA Services Suspended Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27, 2015
The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority has announced a list of final route pick-ups before ceasing service later this evening. Service is suspended tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27, 2015. Riders should call (508) 999-5211 for information about the status of SRTA services. For more details visit www.srtabus.com.

Sand Available to City Residents at Various Locations
The Department of Public Infrastructure has made sand available to city residents at many locations throughout the city. Residents are advised to bring their own small container to collect the sand at any of the following locations:

· Norfolk St & Acushnet Ave
· Toby St & Acushnet Ave
· Manila St & Acushnet Ave
· Fire Station #5 –Acushnet Ave
· Phillips Rd & Pine Hill Dr
· Welby Rd, North Side, Between Two Buildings
· Essex St & Phillips Rd, Campbell School
· Saint Theresa’s Church – Acushnet Ave
· Balls Corner, Mill Rd & Belleville Ave
· Saint Mary’s School/Church –Illinois St
· Tarkiln Hill Rd & Acushnet Ave
· Police Station #3 – Ashley Blvd
· Wilks Library –Acushnet Ave & Princeton St
· Ashley Blvd & Princeton St
· Belleville Rd & Hope St
· Mount Pleasant St on Nash Rd Side (in place)
· Fire Station –Davis St & Acushnet Ave
· Deane St & Ashley Blvd
· Bullard St & Acushnet Ave
· Shawmut Diner, Between the Driveways
· Acushnet Ave & Sawyer St
· Sawyer St & Mount Pleasant St
· Beetle St & North Front St
· Beetle St & N. Front St
· Coggeshall St & Ashley Blvd
· Coggeshall & Purchase St
· 10 Kilburn St
· Purchase St & Logan St
· Rockdale Ave & Granit St
· Linden St & County St, South Side of Linden St
· Fire Station #7 –Durfee St & Cottage St
· Durfee St & Shawmut Ave
· Red Cross, Rockdale Ave & Durfee St
· Purchase St & Wamsutta Ave
· Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Studley St & Summer St, On West Side
· Merrimac St & County St
· 1554 Purchase St, Fire Repair
· Pleasant St & Pope St
· Parker St & County St, East Side of County St
· Parker St & Rockdale Ave
· Pleasant St & Pearl St
· Purchase St & Campbell St
· Cottage St & Campbell St
· Sycamore St & State St
· County St & Sycamore St
· Pleasant St, Rear Lot of Fire Prevention
· Maxfield St & Pleasant St
· E.M.T.S. Chancery St, Inside Parking Area
· S.E.C. Summer St & Hillman St
· Ash St & Hillman St
· Fire Station #2 –Pleasant St
· County St & North St
· Pope’s Island Marina
· Third District Court, North Side of Kempton St
· Liberty St & Kempton St
· Pleasant St & Middle St
· South Sixth St & Middle St
· County St & Middle St
· Elm St Garage, On Acushnet Ave
· Buttonwood Library
· Pier 3 –Visitors Center
· South Water & Hamilton St
· William St & Acushnet Ave, Custom House Square
· City Hall, Pleasant St Side
· Centre St & Front St
· Market St & Sixth St
· Second St & Union St
· Union St & Acushnet Ave
· Purchase St & Union St
· Eighth St and Union St
· County St & Union St
· Spring St & Pleasant St
· Zeiterion Garage, Acushnet Ave Entrance
· School St & Purchase St
· School St & Sixth St
· School St & County St
· Walnut St & Acushnet Ave
· Maple St & Atlantic St
· Maple St & Reed St
· Madison St & County St
· Fire Museum, Bedford St & Sixth St
· Page St & Bedford St
· Wing St & Acushnet Ave
· Wing St & County St
· Fair St & County St
· Fire Station #6, Purchase St
· Thompson St & Crapo St
· County St & Rivet St
· Bonney St & Rivet St
· Bolton St & Rivet St
· Delano St & South First St
· Jouvette St & Bonney St
· Howland Green Library, Driveway, Rodney French Blvd
· Rockdale Ave & Dartmouth St
· Fire Station #11, Brock Ave & Mott St
· Willard St & West Rodney French Blvd
· Clegg Field, Brock Ave
· Brock Ave & Portland St
· Wastewater Treatment Plant, Community Center
· South Rodney French Blvd, Cable Access Building

New Bedford Harbor Hurricane Barrier Navigation Gate
The Army Corps of Engineers has no present intention to close the navigation gate at this time. Tuesday’s high tides are at 1:10 AM and 1:34 PM. The Army Corps is monitoring conditions. If conditions require the gate to be closed, the closure will be announced to Mariners on Channel 16, 60 to 90 minutes before closing.

Winter Weather Preparedness Tips for Residents and Business Owners
Residents and business owners are advised to review the Winter Weather Tips available on the City webpage http://www.newbedford-ma.gov/emergency-management/winter-storms/ and to take proactive steps to prepare for the major winter storm.

Important Emergency Contact Numbers
· To report a downed power line, medical, fire or other emergencies please dial 911.
· NSTAR is prepared to address and damage and outages resulting from the storm and encourages customers whose electric service is affected to call 1-800-592-2000. NSTAR strongly urges people to stay away from all down wires and to report them immediately.
· To report snow removal issues on city streets, residents may contact the Department of Public Infrastructure at (508) 991-6150
· New Bedford Police Department may also be reached on its Non-emergency line at (508) 991-6350
· Please visit the City’s website at www.newbedford-ma.gov for more information and
updates from the City of New Bedford regarding the snowstorm.

About Michael Silvia

Served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Owner of New Bedford Guide.

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