Massachusetts

Scituate bracing for both sides of the snowstorm

SCITUATE, Mass. — Town officials met for an emergency meeting Thursday to address plans for the impending snowstorm. Scituate is bracing for both sides of the storm. Snow and the coastal impact made it an easy decision for Lisa Hazard.

“I have a sister,” said Hazard. “I go there and stay.”

Folks in Scituate who won’t be able to run away from the storm, have one other option, get ready for it.

“18 inches,” said Leo & Alex Clougherty of Scituate. “We got a generator. Everything is ready to go and gassed up. Gasoline a lot of firewood, a lot of splitting wood.”

This will be the first snowstorm for the Clougherty’s who just moved to the Coastline from South Boston.

“Scary,” said Alex. “We just moved to the area so we are a little nervous.”

The town Administrator is warning them and everyone else about the top concern.

“We are a little concerned about the afternoon tide and maybe some moderate flooding,” said Scituate Town Administrator Jim Boudreau. “If the track helps us out and shifts around to the northwest for that tide it would be helpful.”

The residents’ top concern is similar.

“Once the water comes up it doesn’t have anywhere to go,” said resident Paula Elsmore.

That’s why the town is handing out Sandbags to businesses and residents. Hazard may be leaving town, but she boarded her waterfront house up and lined her garage for floodwater.

“For my street, it floods,” said Hazard. “I have my dad’s hip boots to put on because I have to clear the drain.”

The town also has its high water equipment and the team ready for a worst-case scenario but it is urging anyone who lives in or near a flood-prone area to voluntarily leave.

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