Experts urge preparation for South Shore coastal residents

Nov. 16--SCITUATE -- Experts are urging coastal residents to be proactive about protecting their property from the coastal flooding and other storm damage sure to come in the next few months. Evacuation procedures, property preparedness and floods are all things residents should be considering ahead of winter storm season, Dave Ball, president of the Scituate Coastal Coalition, says.

The Massachusetts and Scituate coastal coalitions hosted a pre-disaster outreach forum at the Scituate Library Thursday night. Joe Rossi, the Massachusetts coalition president, said it was the first time his group has reached out to people before, rather than after, a flooding event.

"This outreach was really to make sure people were aware of what to do before events. The focus for the last 50 years has been to recover after an event, but we want to make sure you know what to do before," Rossi said. "We can't be there to hold the hand of every single person, so we wanted to make sure to address those issues ahead of time."

Residents were given information about protecting property, storm safety, town-run programs, flood insurance and funding for pre-emptive actions, like elevating a home.

Ball of the Scituate coalition urged residents to utilize storm programs provided by the town, like filling out the "I've Evacuated" form for the fire department online, contacting the Scituate Animal Shelter about taking care of pets, and putting "OK" or "Help" signs in the front windows during a storm to help first responders. He said residents should sign up for Code Red alerts through the Plymouth County Sheriff's department, and set up a neighborhood group to check on everyone in the area.

If evacuating, he said, always leave at least three hours before the peak of high tide.

"If you wait until the fourth or fifth hour, you're going to get yourself in big trouble," he said.

Rossi warned residents against being lax just because they don't live along a beach. He said the federal government estimates 40 percent of losses come from people who don't live in a mapped high-risk flood zone, and encourages those who live anywhere near the coast to invest in flood coverage.

"We talk about those buildings that may not be completely coastal, but those in standing water can get just as much damage as those that experience wave spray," he said.

Ahead of a storm, Rossi wants residents to check their flood hazard, complete an inventory of personal property, make an emergency checklist, board up windows and doors, tie down any outdoor possessions and move furniture to higher elevation.

Information about storm preparedness can be found on the Massachusetts Coastal Coalition's website at knowflood.org.

Reach Mary Whitfill at [email protected].

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