CAPE COD – A storm turning into a “bomb cyclone” is lashing the Cape with potentially damaging southeasterly winds and heavy rain. (Scroll down for latest updates).
8:00 AM update: Falling tree limbs have caused significant power loss in the Centerville area with nearly 2,500 customers without power. Smaller outages from limbs coming down are reported in Sandwich and Bourne.
9:00 AM update: About 500 Eversource customers without power in Chatham. The National Weather Service reports a peak wind gust of 74 MPH at Kalmus Beach in Hyannis and 72 MPH in Dennis.
10:30 AM update: The Centerville outage has been mostly restored. About 350 electric customers in Barnstable Village are out along with the 600 in Bourne and 500 in Chatham. The above view from a webcam in the far east end of Provincetown shows waves crashing over Commercial Street (Route 6A) near Snail Road. It appears there is some debris in the roadway. The road is open, however a Provincetown Police cruiser can be seen at far right under the overhand monitoring the situation. High tide in Provincetown is at 10:47 AM. Falmouth officials report a portion of Shore Road in their town has washed out and is not passable.
11:00 AM update: Significant flooding being reported in the east end of Provincetown. The intersection of Howland and Bradford Streets is impassible. Firefighters were using a high water rescue vehicle to extricate a wheelchair bound person from a house at that intersection.
we122322 Kendrick Ave. Flooding from Cape Wide News LLC on Vimeo.
Wellfleet Police report flooding in the Kendrick Avenue area (above from Mike).
From the town of Chatham: As forecast, some areas of Town are experiencing coastal flooding (above). Old Wharf Road, Bridge Street and Champlain Road are impassable at this time. Little Beach is also experiencing flooding. Please avoid the areas. Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills FD reporting flooding along Long Beach Road and parts of Craigville Beach Road.
Harwich Police posted this photo of flooding at Wixon Dock:
12:00 PM update. A postal truck got caught in a sinkhole in the road on Commercial Street near Anthony Street in Provincetown. No one was injured. Officials report water levels in Provincetown are receding.
Carrie Medina Notaro/CWN
High water rescue vehicles from West Barnstable Fire were still assisting Centerville on Long Beach Road. Power outage situation unchanged from last report.
A Cape Wide News reader sent in this photo taken from MacMillan Wharf in Provincetown showing the east end taking a beating:
1:00 PM update: Only isolated power outages remain. Floodwaters are receding. This is reader video showing the storm tide at the Lieutenant’s Island Bridge in Wellfleet:
we122322 Lt. Island Bridge flooding from Cape Wide News LLC on Vimeo.
Barnstable Police video showing flooding in Centerville:
2:30 PM update: 1100 Eversource customers have lost power in Orleans.
3:45 PM update: Reports coming in of a large tree blocking both lanes of Route 6 between Route 149 (Exit 65) and Route 132 (Exit 68) eastbound. Motorists should expect heavy delays until MassDOT crews can clear it. High wind warning extended to 1 AM and reports still coming in of tree/utility pole damage.
5:00 PM update: A tree came down on a house on Walnut Street on Marstons Mills. Luckily no significant damage was done but the electrical feed to the house did have to be checked by Eversource. No injuries were reported. 100 electric customers are out again in Centerville and about 84 in the Woods Hole section of Falmouth.
6:00 PM update: Provincetown Firefighters were called to a structure in the 500 block of Commercial Street in the past hour. It was one of the structures which had experienced flooding earlier today. According to reports, the homeowner attempted to restore electricity which caused smoke to develop in the residence. Luckily there was no fire. Provincetown Police posted important information for situations just like this: “Tidal water combined with the storm force winds to push a significant amount of water onto Commercial Street causing coastal storm flooding. While not as widespread as in the storm in January 2018, in some areas there was more than 1-foot of sea water in low lying areas.
Your first responders have been responding to calls for help all day.
We know now that many of our waterfront residential and commercial properties along the East and West of Commercial Street may have been exposed to this coastal storm flooding.
It is imperative that you check your properties immediately, ACT NOW do not wait. Contact your trusted caretaker, key-holder, property management company or if possible, visit in person.
Several properties have already reported flooding to us.
If your property has experience flooding, we recommend that you do the following.
Before you do anything, make sure to shut off any power around the area, including electricity, water, and gas. Never enter a flooded area while the power is on. If you aren’t sure how to shut these areas off, please call a qualified electrician or plumber before entering and beginning to work.
Wear boots and gloves for protection. You may also choose to wear a protective mask. Hip or chest waders may also be useful if they are available. Take care when walking and moving around the flooded area since it will likely offer itself as a slipping hazard.
Call your home or business insurance company and report the flood.
Confirm your coverage limits, deductible amount, and claim procedures.
It’s a good idea to get a professional opinion when dealing with this. Depending on your specific situation, you might want to consult a plumbing contractor, a landscaping or excavating company, a disaster restoration specialist, or a combination of these. If your home insurance company is involved, may check to see if they have a specific vendor that they recommend for flood mitigation.
It is important to remove the standing water as soon as possible. But please know that no town departments can assist you with dewatering.
Temperatures are expected drop starting tomorrow night and remain there into the beginning of next week.
Power has been on all day with Eversource currently reporting zero customers without electricity in Provincetown currently.
We are here if you need us but call response time may be increased as the storm is still ongoing. Extreme cold weather will be hitting our area after the storm. If you have turned your power off, ensure that your water is also turned off to avoid freezing.
Please check on your friends or elderly neighbors who may be alone during this time. If you know of someone who needs to be checked on that has no one, please call us.
All of your first responder agencies are here to help you. Please call us anytime at 508-487-1212. As always for any emergency dial 911.
Please check on your friends or elderly neighbors who may be alone during this time. If you know of someone who needs to be checked on that has no one, please call us.”
7:00 PM update: Gusty winds still causing a few outages. 572 are out in Bourne, 371 in Orleans, 141 in Hyannis.
8:30 PM update: Power outage ramping up again: Barnstable 1,500, Bourne 1,000, Chatham 861, Mashpee 413, Orleans 371, Falmouth, 267. A scare for a driver in Falmouth. A tree came down on a car on Waquoit Highway (Route 28) at Barrows. Luckily the driver was not injured. Heartwarming news coming out of Provincetown. The popular waterfront restaurant Fanizzi’s was hard hit by the pounding waves at high tide this morning. Owner Paul Fanizzi will, as he has to do a number of times, rebuild his dining room. True to form, townspeople are buying his food before it goes bad and turning around and donating it to the local soup kitchen.
11:00 PM update: Latest outage report: Bourne 900, Chatham 871, Barnstable 779, Orleans 376, and a new outage in Truro affecting 350 customers.
8 AM (Saturday) update: Eversource continuing to work scattered outages across the Cape. 350 customers are still out in Truro. Most other outages comprise less than 100 customers each.
