FREE - Fairhaven Neighborhood News

By Beth David
Editor
As of press time, Hurricane Irene
was poised to hit this area as a
hurricane as projected by the
National Hurricane Center (link:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_
at4.shtml5-daynllarge#contents).
Fairhaven town officials were
taking the situation seriously and had
scheduled a meeting of all town
department heads for Thursday
morning, 8/25.
Fairhaven Fire Department Public
Information Officer Wayne Oliveira
said the department is preparing for a
direct hit on Sunday. He said the
hurricane plan calls for the depart -
ment to perform equipment checks
first.
Sgt. Kevin Kobza, spokesperson for
the Fairhaven Police Department also
said that equipment checks are the
first order of business. He said the
Hurricane Plan is reviewed annually
and revised as needed. Before the
hurricane, there are specific tasks to
be performed. As the hurricane gets
closer, things like calling in additional
personnel and assigning vehicles to
specific posts get implemented.
If evacuations are necessary,
residents will be notified by radio and
TV, reverse 911 calls, and roadside
checkpoints.
Police cruisers may also be posted
at certain intersections to prevent
Area gets ready for Hurricane Irene
Accident causes power
outage on Neck, West Island
By Beth David
Editor
A single car accident caused a
power outage on Sconticut Neck and
West Island on Sunday night, 8/21.
At approximately 9 p.m., a car
crashed into a telephone pole
between the 500 and 600 blocks on
Sconticut Neck Road. Power was out
for an undetermined amount of time.
NSTAR was unable to give details by
press time.
The telephone pole was replaced
by NSTAR crews on Tuesday.
According to the Fairhaven fire
department, the operator of the
vehicle was transported to St. Luke’s
Hospital.
No charges have been filed in the
accident.
At approxi mately the same time,
spectators from favorite spots like
the West Island Causeway and the
hurricane barrier at Fort Phoenix.
Mr. Oliveira said that as the storm
becomes imminent, fire trucks will be
deployed to various parts of town so
they will not have to maneuver along
streets that often get flooded.
He said the department does
ongoing fire drills with the public and
encouraged people to be prepared.
“Tell people to watch the news
faithfully in the next few days,” said
Mr. Oliveira. “Pack an overnight bag
in case you have to evacuate.”
On the waterfront, local marinas
and boat owners were pulling boats
out of the water and getting them to
higher ground. Earl’s Marina planned
to start hauling boats on Wednesday
and placing them in a hay field on
Sconticut Neck Road.
In case of a mandatory evacuation,
the fire and police departments do
not physically remove people who
refuse to leave their homes, however,
authorities may not respond if a call
comes in for help from evacuated
areas.
Shelters will be set up for those
who need to evacuate or feel unsafe
staying at home. The Wood School on
Sconticut Neck Road is the primary
shelter with the Hastings Middle
School serving as an overflow shelter.
Remember that pets are not allowed,
so make arrange ments to take them
somewhere else.
Residents are also enouraged to
get their hurricane stickers from the
Department of Public Works right
away. The stickers are free and allow
residents to pass through check
points in case heavy damage causes
police to restrict access to some
neigh borhoods.
For general information on how to
prepare for a hurricane, visit the
Fairhaven Fire Depart ment website at
www. FairhavenFire.org and click on
the hurricane preparedness link at
the top of the page. If you do not find
the informa tion you need there, call
508-994-1428.
The storm is still several days
away and could very well veer away
from the area. Meanwhile, it is still a
good idea to be prepared.
“Every year we get geared up for
this, it’s just that the public doesn’t
know about it unless we get a
hurricane,” said Sgt. Kobza. “It’s not
out of the ordinary for us to be at this
level of preparation. We do take it
seriously and review and abide by it
annually.”
“I think everyone’s taking it
seriously,” said Fairhaven Select -
board Executive Secretary Jeff Osuch.
“Each day we’ll have a better idea. At
this point it certainly looks like we’re
going to get some heavy rain and
some wind. The question is, how
much wind.” •••
an accident
between a
motorcycle
and car oc -
curred at the
corner of Main
and Bridge
Streets in
Fairhaven.
The opera -
tor of the
motor cycle
was trans -
ported to
Rhode Island
Hospital. The
accident is An NSTAR crew replaces a pole on Sconticut Neck Road on Tuesday,
under investi - 8/23. A car crashed into the pole between the 500 and 600 blocks on
gation. Sunday, 8/20, at approximately 9 p.m. The driver was transported to
••• the hospital with unspecified injuries. No charges have been filed.
Photo by Beth David. See it in color at www.NeighbNews.com
Fairhaven Neighborhood News Thursday, August 25, 2011 Page 17