For Immediate Release: BCREPC Continues to Monitor Approach of Hurricane Isaias
Media Release 002
Barnstable, MA. (August 1, 2020) — At a 10:00 a.m. conference call on Saturday, the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) convened remotely to discuss updates to the forecast for Hurricane Isaias and what we can expect in our region early next week.
Individuals present on the call included over 75 representatives from agencies across Cape Cod’s 15 towns and Nantucket, including police, fire, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Eversource, the Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC), and several volunteer organizations, including the Red Cross.
Although Isaias has gained strength in its current location along the east coast of Florida this morning, it faces environmental factors that should prevent it from getting stronger as it moves north and will likely shift to tropical storm intensity.
- 60-65 mph tropical storm force winds now expected to reach Cape Cod between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening, with the center of the storm likely to pass over Cape Cod at 2:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.
- 2-3 inches rainfall expected; coastal flooding and beach erosion are possible, especially on the northwest facing coastline.
- Downed tree limbs, scattered power, and communications outages are possible.
- To be safe, citizens should prepare for the potential of significant wind impacts. Efforts should now be underway to secure all properties.
- Campers should monitor weather reports and be ready to relocate.
STATUS: BCREPC wants residents and visitors to know that the Hurricane Isaias is being monitored and shelters will be ready to activate if necessary. BCREPC is also working with the Red Cross and other agencies to ensure that proper protocols be taken at shelters in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) is on standby. The next remote conference call will be held on Sunday, August 2, at 10:00 a.m. to assess the latest forecasts. Visit www.bcrepc.org for updates.
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Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC)
The BCREPC was founded in September 2002 to assist the communities on Cape Cod and the Town of Nantucket with addressing hazardous materials emergency planning and response as required by the federal government. Today, the BCREPC has expanded its scope to include “All Hazard” emergency planning issues such as storm response, sheltering and grants management. The BCREPC is a coalition of emergency management, law enforcement, fire service, health care, public health, public works, EMS, military, and numerous other affiliated agencies as outlined by the Massachusetts State Emergency Response Committee (SERC). It represents the towns of Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet, and Yarmouth in Barnstable County, and the town of Nantucket in Nantucket County. The REPC is coordinated by the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment. Visit www.bcrepc.org
