Winter Storm Kenan Update 1/28/22

Posted on: January 30, 2022 - 10:57am

Hanover's Emergency Management Team is fully prepared to respond to Winter Storm Kenan. Hanover residents are advised to shelter in place for the duration of the storm. We ask that family, friends, and neighbors make a point to check in with each other, especially with those in the community who are most vulnerable. If anyone needs assistance, has questions, or is concerned about the well-being of a fellow resident, please contact Hanover's Town Manager at 339-214-5303 (call/text) or send a message to joseph.colangelo@hanover-ma.gov. For all emergencies, call 911.

The Town of Hanover is not planning to have a warming station open on Saturday, January 29th. If needed, a warming station will be made available at Hanover High School, 287 Cedar Street, on Sunday, January 30th. As the storm develops, additional information will be provided.

Forecast

Winter Storm Kenan is set to pummel parts of the East Coast with heavy snow and strong winds, including blizzard conditions that will cripple travel in some areas. Blizzard warnings have now been issued by the National Weather Service and winds gusting as high as 70 mph are expected in some areas.

Travel should be completely avoided in any of the blizzard. Kenan will likely reach its peak intensity off of the New England coast as the weekend begins. Heavy snow, high winds, and coastal flooding will hammer southern and eastern New England and Long Island. Snowfall rates of 1 to 4 inches per hour are expected in the most intense snowbands over eastern New England. Snow is expected to taper off in most areas by Sunday morning. Temperatures will be cold in the wake of the storm. Wind chills will be in the frigid single digits above and below zero to start the day since it will remain breezy.

For additional forecasts, visit weather.gov/box and weather.com.

Closures and Cancellations

  • There will be no COVID-19 PCR Testing on Saturday, January 29th. Testing may resume on January 30th, depending on the weather conditions.
  • The Hanover Transfer Station will be closed on Saturday, January 29th. Residents are advised to check the Town website prior to going to the Transfer Station on Sunday as the station may still be closed due to snow and ice operations. The Transfer Station cannot be re-opened until the snow has been removed and it is deemed safe for the public.
  • The John Curtis Free Library will be closed on Saturday, January 29th, and on Sunday, January 30th.
  • All HYAA activities have been cancelled for Saturday, January 29th and Sunday, January 30th.
  • All Hanover Public Schools and Town events and activities have been cancelled for Saturday, January 29th, and Sunday, January 30th.

Prepare for Potential Power Outages

If you lose power, please notify National Grid to ensure that your outage is reported or call 800-465-1212. To report a downed power line, stay away and call 911. Be prepared by having your flashlights, candles, generators, and backup power devices ready and fully charging your electronics. Make sure your batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have been replaced within the last six months. Prepare alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or power-dependent medical devices.

Downed Power Lines

Residents are advised to use extreme care around downed utility wires. Assume they are “live.”

  • Report downed utility lines by calling 911.
  • All downed wires should be considered live. This includes electric, telephone, and cable wires.
  • Emergency responders will be marking downed wires with YELLOW caution tape.  Remind children to stay away from all downed wires.
  • Again, all downed wires should be considered live and avoided.

Plowing and Roadways

  • Effective 12:01 AM Saturday, January 29th, the Town of Hanover will implement a parking ban on all public roadways. Noncompliance may result in your vehicle being towed.  
  • Residents are requested to not plow or snow blow their driveways into the roadway. Doing so presents a hazard to the traveling public.
  • All roads in town are actively monitored and plowed from the start of a storm until it is finished. Snow removal operations are expected to continue well into Sunday due to the volume of snow that is forecasted and a shortage of contract plows.
  • Roads need to be plowed wide enough to allow for the passage of emergency vehicles. This may require snow banks to be pushed back after a storm has passed. The Department of Public Works is not responsible for snow plowed into the end of a driveway that has already been cleared by a private contractor.
  • Sidewalks on Cedar Street, Pleasant Street, Whiting Street, and Route 139 will be cleared after the roads and Town parking lots have been cleared. Sidewalk clearing is expected to take an extended amount of time.

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