Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan May Be Activated as a Hurricane or Strong Tropical Storm Approaches

Image: National Hurricane Center

Local and state officials are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Danny.

Danny is the first hurricane of the 2015 season, according to the National Weather Service. The tropical storm was upgraded to a hurricane at 11 Thursday morning.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and local public safety officials on Cape Cod, may activate the Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan as a hurricane or strong tropical storm approaches the region to facilitate the movement of vehicles leaving Cape Cod in advance of the storm.

Although developed to manage the egress of vehicles from the Cape in advance of a hurricane, this All Hazards Plan would be utilized to improve traffic flow off Cape Cod in a number of emergency situations.

As a hurricane or tropical storm approaches Cape Cod, local officials will consider whether localized evacuations may be necessary and will issue evacuation recommendations or orders, as required. Depending on the strength and track of an approaching storm, local officials may order people in low-lying, flood-prone areas to evacuate to higher, safer ground. If evacuation orders are issued, regional shelters will be opened on Cape Cod to accommodate evacuees during the storm.

Low-lying, flood prone areas on Cape Cod already have been identified and included within the Commonwealth’s hurricane evacuation zones.

Danny was centered about 1090 miles east of the Windward Islands, on Thursday morning, moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph. This general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days

To learn whether you work or live in a designated hurricane evacuation zone, go to the interactive Know Your Evacuation Zone map on MEMA’s website. As a hurricane or tropical storm approaches, people in hurricane evacuation zones should monitor news broadcasts and weather forecasts and move to higher ground if an evacuation order is issued.

Even if Cape Cod is threatened by a powerful hurricane, it is extremely unlikely that local or state officials would order an evacuation of the entire Cape. Except for residents of low-lying, flood prone coastal areas, most residents would be safe in their homes or in regional shelters.

Danny has been categorized at this point as a Categoty 1 hurricane. Maximum sustained winds increased to near 75 mph - a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some additional strengthening during the next 48 hours is forecast, according to forecasters, followed by slight weakening as Danny encounters high shear and dry air in the eastern Caribbean Sea.

Although widespread evacuations off of Cape Cod will not be necessary in advance of a hurricane, many residents and tourists may nonetheless choose to leave the Cape and Islands, particularly if the region is threatened by a strong hurricane. The CCETP is designed to minimize, as much as possible, traffic jams caused by large numbers of vehicle leaving the Cape.

Danny was centered about 1090 miles east of the Windward Islands, on Thursday morning, moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph. This general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days

The latest version of the Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan is available through MEMA’s website athttp://www.mass.gov/eopss/home-sec-emerg-resp/emergency-response/ccetp/

Danny could be downgraded to a tropical storm, or upgrade to a Category 2 hurricane if the sustained winds pick up.