City Of Worcester Taking Proactive Safety Measures For Hurricane Henri

By Kendrick Jones –

Friday afternoon the City of Worcester announced that it is taking proactive measures to ensure safety among Worcester residents as Hurricane Henri Intensifies.

Among safety measures being taken in anticipation of the storm are the following:

·Barricades are being placed in known low lying areas prone to flash flooding for quicker street closure response 

·MassDOT will have crews standing by to monitor state roadways

·All forestry trucks and other equipment being fully fueled and outfitted for emergency response, additional crews on standby

·Catch basins and culverts/brooks are being cleaned and cleared of any existing debris to assist with storm water run off

·Increased interdepartmental communication with Emergency Communications/Dispatch and DPW&P for quicker response to stranded motor vehicles and downed trees/debris

·Potential to activate Emergency Operations Center (EOC) if conditions warrant

The City of Worcester is urging motorists to stay off the road during periods of potential inundation and flooding.

For those that must be on the road the City says “They should be aware of the potential for manhole covers to become dislodged due to water pressure, which can be extremely dangerous upon impact as well as leaving an uncovered surface in the road.”

Additionally, the City says that “If storm conditions follow the current forecast trends, there is a high likelihood that trash and recycling collection will be suspended on Monday and other facility operations could be impacted, such as yard waste/recycling drop off centers, aquatics, etc.”