Four emergency snow shelters opened on Cape Cod

SANDWICH, Mass. -- Heavy wind and snow battered Cape Cod on Sunday morning.

“We are very concerned that latter part of the snowstorm is going to bring heavy wet snow with power outages. Experience on the Cape is that power outages could last 10-12 hours,” said Chief George Baker of the Mashpee Fire Department, who is also on a local emergency planning committee.

Approximately 7,500 power outages were reported in the area at the height of the storm. NSTAR had crews stationed on Cape Cod and the surrounding islands overnight to help with repairs.

The Red Cross on Cape Cod has set up four regional shelters: the Oak Ridge School in East Sandwich, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School in South Yarmouth, Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich, and Nauset Regional High School in Eastham. These shelters will open at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Officials encourage residents to call 9-1-1 if they require transportation to a shelter.

“The risk of making a mistake with weather is one element. Being ready here on-time, ready and equipped to welcome people in and to make sure that they’re safe weighs out,” said Glen Beasley of the American Red Cross.

Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School in South Yarmouth can hold up to 1,000 people.

“We have wings at this school. If it really turned out to be a 1,000 person operation, you’d have a pet wing, and you’d have an advanced medical triage ring and we’d have a people shelter,” said Beasley.

Some locals on Cape Cod took a positive approach toward the storm.

“Whether it’s 8 inches or 20 inches, I’ll deal with it,” said one woman.

“Everything’s all in the refrigerator. It’s all good to go,” said another man.

The snowstorm is expected to end by midday Sunday.

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