By Paul Tuthill
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-983703.mp3
Springfield, MA – It has been twenty years since New England took a direct hit from a hurricane, and authorities are urging people to be prepared as forecasters say Hurricane Irene will likely not take a turn out to sea. WAMC"s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency Friday for a storm he said could have serious consequences for the entire state. Ten inches of flooding rains are expected in western Massachusetts, hurricane force winds in eastern Massachusetts and a damaging storm surge on the south facing coast.
Patrick, said he had spoken with hundreds of local emergency management officials across the state. He expects to have two thousand National Guardsmen mobilized by Saturday morning. Utility companies have activated storm response plans. Reservoirs are being drawn down to absorb the expected rainfall. State campgrounds and beaches are being evacuated and closed. There are no plans currently to suspend public transit.
Governor Patrick, speaking from the headquarters of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency urged people to stock up on food, water, batteries and flashlights. He recommended storm preparations be completed by Saturday afternoon.
Patrick said he was troubled that the projected track of Irene will take the powerful storm on the same path as the June 1st tornado
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said the city's Emergency Operations Center has been activated and preparations are being made for the likelihood of flooding, prolonged power outages, and downed trees.
Sarno said the city would open an emergency shelter Saturday morning. People who are living in trailers while their tornado damaged houses are being repaired were advised to leave, as the sustained winds forecast up to 75 miles an hour are capable of knocking the structures off their foundations
The first day of school in Springfield, scheduled Monday, is being postponed.
Across the region, officials say they are hoping for the best, while planning for the worst. At Bay State Medical Center, which has the area's only Level 1 trauma center, director of security, Tom Lynch says plans are in place to deal with any contingency
FEMA has set up staging area for emergency supplies at the Westover Air Force Reserve base in Chicopee, according to base spokesman, Lt Col James Bishop
18 C-5 aircraft will be flown out of Westover to wait out the storm at bases in Florida and Ohio.