[7:00 PM | August 20, 2021] 001 Media Alert: Information from Barnstable County Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) Regarding Tropical Storm Henri

BCREPC Convened at 4:00PM on Friday August 20th to Discuss Potential Impacts from Tropical Storm Henri and Emergency Preparedness Measures for our Region 

August 20, 2021 (Barnstable, MA) – The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC), comprised of state and local public health officials, first responders, shelter managers, elected officials and other regional decision-makers is now meeting twice daily to discuss the region’s preparation and response efforts for the approach of Tropical Storm Henri.

As of 4pm on Friday, guidance shows Tropical Storm Henri beginning to take a northwesterly track over warmer waters (84F) off the coast of the Carolinas. The storm is expected to strengthen until it meets cooler water temperatures further north. How quickly the storm weakens will depend on its forward speed over the next 24 hours. 

Henri’s track is still evolving but appears to be shifting further west than previously predicted. If the storm continues this westerly trend, it could potentially lessen impacts to Cape Cod and the Islands. The BCREPC receives regular updates regarding the storm’s track and intensity and will provide more information following its next update tomorrow, August 21, at 10am.

Officials continue to plan for potentially strong sustained winds and dangerous storm surge resulting from astronomically high tides. The following preparations are currently underway:

• Eversource and National Grid have called in additional crews to handle storm related damage should the need arise. 
• Barnstable County is moving forward with shelter preparations in the towns of Falmouth, Barnstable, Dennis-Yarmouth and Harwich. Whether or not the shelters will be activated is yet to be determined.
• The Massachusetts Emergency Management Committee is mobilizing resources such as sandbags and personal protective equipment and working with traffic managers to handle bridge traffic and potential bridge closures, should sustained winds exceed 70mph. 
• If need dictates, the Barnstable County Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) will be deployed to provide local Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) with resources and information during the storm. Officials will continue to assess this need as the storm evolves. The public is strongly encouraged to prepare accordingly for the potential landfall of Tropical Storm Henri as a Category 1 Hurricane. Personal preparedness tips and informational storm preparedness resources are provided at www.bcrepc.org. ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE
  The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) is a coalition of 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 mission of the BCREPC is to harness the power of planning, cooperation, and interoperability to assist Cape Cod communities to mitigate the threat from any hazard which may require the response of multiple jurisdictions.