LIVE Swampscott Irene BLOG

Aug. 28,

2:50pm,

Police Chief Ron Madigan said that 7 or 8 boats broke free of their moorings and ran ashore today. Police notified the harbormaster. Boats came ashore at Fisherman's Beach, Lynn Shore Drive and behind Cap'n Jack's.

Police, Fire and DPW crews have been responding to downed wires and limbs and other calls throughout the storm.

The police chief and Deputy Fire Chief James Potts and DPW Director Gino Cresta were on hand to open the emergency shelter at the senior center this morning. The two people who sought refuge there have returned to their residences.

1:55 pm DPW removed a split tree that threatened a house at 964 Humphrey St. around midday and were bound for Galloupes Point Road address where a large tree had fallen into the street.

DPW Director Gino Cresta said that tree was down by the intersection of Galloupes Point Road and Galloupes Terrace.

Two people were at the senior center this morning when it opened seeking refuge at the emergency shelter. 

12:25 pm A large tree uprooted and fell on a house at 6 Estabrook shortly before 11 this morning. Police and fire units responded to the scene.  Power lines tugged to the ground and a utility pole was leaning to the right. Swampscott fire Capt. Kevin Thomsen said National Grid has been notified but there was no ETA given the many incidents during the tropical storm.

8:40 am, Swampscott beaches are closed. Swampscott fire Capt. Kevin Thomsen says all it takes is one wave to sweep someone from a rock or a pier.

8:37 am, People were swept from the rocks at Red Rock Park in Lynn before 7 this morning. They were watching the surf. Lynn crews got them out of the water.

8:09 am, Public Works Director Gino Cresta reports things are pretty quiet in town but that could change in a hurry.

The wind has just picked up a bit.

The department has three people at work and the rest of the department is on call.

One employee is opening up the emergency shelter at the senior center for people seeking shelter.

Other members gathering trash barrels.

The senior center will open at 8:30 am.

8 am Good morning, right now its 70 degrees, with 100 percent humidity and winds of 7 mph, gusting to 12 mph. .36 of an inch of rain of rain has fallen.

Aug. 27,

10:46 pm, We'll see what tomorrow brings. Good night, Irene.

10:45 pm, Weather conditions now include a temperature of 70 degrees, humidity of 100 percent, wind gusts of 2 miles per hour, coming from the north/northwest and almost an inch of rain today — .84 of an inch.

8:09 pm, Fisherman's Beach late this afternoon: walkers under umbrellas and one man swimming. 

7:55 pm, MBTA announced that it is suspending Sunday service due to threat from Irene. The last ride is slated for 8 am Sunday.

7:54 pm, #Swampscott weather conditions at the George Allen station: 71 degrees, 100 percent humidity, no wind and .66-inches of rain.

3:45 pm, Current conditions in Swampscott, 72 degrees, 100 percent humidity, south/southwest wind gusting at 2 miles per hour, overcast and rain. The conditions come from George Allen's weather station in Swampscott.

3:41 pm, We’ll wait to see where Hurricane Irene falls on the list of all-time New England hurricanes.

But the song Irene, Goodnight Irene, lingers high on the list of songs with a hurricane’s name in the title.

Two others are Donna and Gloria.

Oh Donna was done by Ritchie Valens. There was also a song in the 90s called Donna Everywhere by Too Much Joy.

Van Morrison does a rousing rendition of Gloria.

A search online also turns up information on Carol, written by Chuck Berry and sung by him and the Beatles. Apparently Neil Sedaka did it, too.

That brings us to Goodnight Irene, a tune that makes you want to sway side-to-side. 

Performers as dissimilar as Jerry Lee Lewis and Frank Sinatra have covered it. So have Johnny Cash,  Little Richard and Mississippi John Hurt.

Ry Cooder, Dr. John and Michelle Shocked, too.

The folk group The Weavers made it a hit in 1950.

But many music historians credit Lead Belly, blues musician Huddie Ledbetter, with writing the lyrics and crafting the tune for the version made popular. 

His lyrics speak about heartbreak, longing and revenge.

We’ll wait to see how Irene the hurricane speaks to us and is remembered.

In the meantime, can you think of any other songs with a hurricane in the title? You can email the song you think of to terry.date@patch.com.

11:35 am The majority of the boats that remain are sailboats. A beautiful dory moored close to shore has been moved. The fishermen have moved their boats to safer spots.

A Boston Coast Guard spokeswoman said they have dispersed their vessels to protected coves to protect the fleet.

11:30 am, But if the wind does come from the south — Egg Rock is due south — "bad things happen" in the harbor, Tibbetts said.

11:15 am, Swampscott Harbor is very calm, though few, only about 30 boats remain moored. The rest have been moved to safer spots or taken out of the water. Swampscott mooring man Harris Tibbetts says the harbor is typically protected from wind damage unless it is a south wind, coming in from the direction of Egg Rock.

11:12 am, Town officials announced earlier this morning that the high school would open at 8:30 am on Sunday for emergency shelter for those who feel they need it. See the Patch main page for full details.

11:11 am, A Public Works crew is down at Fisherman's Beach removing the landing floats from the end of the pier. The floats will go back in the water early in the week and remain there until the end of the season, said Public Works Director Gino Cresta.

8:25 am, Earlier this morning the eye of the storm was just south of the outer banks of North Carolina. Its sustained winds were 67 miles per hour.

8:17 am

The current conditions on George Allen's local weather station are 70 degrees, 86 percent humidity, no precipitation and wind gusts of 4 miles per hour.

The president declared Massachusetts a federal disaster area this morning, opening the gate to relief paid for with federal dollars.

Aug. 26,

10:56 pm, Goodnight, Irene, see you in my dreams.

10:50 pm, Current conditions at George Allen's weather station in Swampscott, 70-degrees, 96 percent humidity, winds from the south/southeast and the wind speed is 1 mph.

10:48 pm, Here are some hurricane tips from Krista Perry at the Chelmsford Patch:

if you lose power, unplug electronics from the wall as they could be damaged, etc

-Recipes for hurricane day - French toast for all that bread and milk, recipes for stuff like tuna that doesn't require power to cook, obviously hurricane beverages...

-Keeping pets safe during the storm...I have some tips from the Lowell Humane Society: 

• Keep a radio or television on to mask the noise of the storm outdoors.

• Allow them to hide. This is a natural instinct to keep safe from a storm. If they have a crate this is the perfect place for them to hunker down.

• If your dog seems distressed from the storm, try giving her a gentle hug. This helps calm the nerves.

• Play games with your dogs to distract them. This is a great time to work on basic manners like down and stay or even a new trick like wave! You can also ask your dog to sit and stay while you hide treats around the room, then release them to find them.

7:15 pm, George Allen is speeding up the frequency with which he will be posting Swampscott harbor photos

shows a great view of the water. 

 Here is another link for George's larger hazecam images.

7:11 pm, A tropical storm warning has been issued for Swampscott. Make final preparations for the storm and secure any objects that could go airborne.

The exact track and arrival of the storm is not known.

5:11 pm, Check out the Irene footage sent by Matt Lynch.

5:03 p.m. As of 4:56 pm it was 74 degrees and winds were coming from the south/southeast at 5 mph, according to local weather station maintained by George Allen.

3:55 pm DPW Director Gino Cresta said yesterday that crews would be removing floats from the end of the pier at Fisherman's Beach on Saturday.

3:50 pm

As of noon about 35 boat owners had pulled their boats from the water at Swampscott Habor.

Fifteen of those boats were taken out at dark, Thursday night, because that's when the high tide arrived.

About 10 boats came out on Thursday morning and 10 on Friday morning. More are expected to be removed, said Jackson Schultz of the Swampscott Yacht Club.

3:40 pm

Some info from the US Coast Guard in Boston

• • Swampscott Patch The VHF frequencies are 21B and 83V, according to the Coast Guard spokeswoman in Boston.10 minutes ago · Like
  • Swampscott Patch Also, to report an emergency or if you are in need of Coast Guard assistance use VHF-FM Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) or dial 911. The telephone number for the Boston Coast Guard unit is6 minutes ago · Like
• Boaters can monitor storm progress on VHF radio channel 16.

3:09 pm

From Town Administrator Andrew Maylor

 Hurricane Irene is forecasted to affect Swampscott beginning on Saturday evening and continuing into Monday. Significant rainfall and heavy winds are expected along with storm surges along the coast, especially during high tides. The Town's Emergency Management Team has been meeting to coordinate the Town's response and plan for the impact of this event. Information regarding voluntary and mandatory evacuations, if necessary, and the location of emergency shelters will be provided in future communications using this system. Please begin to take the necessary steps to prepare for the possibility of power outages and flooding, if you happen to live in a low lying area. You should expect to receive additional information within 24 hours.

Forwarded by Swampscott police Det. Ted Delano

Dear Residents:

Massachusetts emergency management officials are preparing for the likelihood of Hurricane Irene potentially impacting the state with high winds and heavy rain. 

“Every home and business should have a stocked basic emergency supply kit that could be used for any emergency, regardless of the time of year,” states Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Director Kurt Schwartz. “Everyone should keep certain items around the house and workplace in the event you are isolated for three to five days without power” 
Each kit will be unique to each family, but should include the essentials: a portable radio, flashlight, extra batteries, a supply of non-perishable foods, along with bottled water, a first aid kit, and extra prescription medication, if necessary. 
All families should develop a ‘Family Emergency Communication Plan’ to help ensure everyone is safe. 
Develop a Disaster Supply Kit ‘Go Bag’ with essentials in case you must evacuate quickly. 

How Residents Can Prepare 
• Have your emergency supplies ready, including food, water, flashlights. 
• Review your family emergency plan with everyone in your household. 
• If your property is prone to flooding, have your sump pump(s) ready. 
• Make sure your cell phones are charged. If cell phone lines are jammed after the storm, you may be able to send text messages. 
• Bring inside (or secure) any outdoor items that might get airborne during high winds. 

How Businesses Can Prepare 
Some tips from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA): 
• As storms approach, remember to bring in display racks and other objects, such as trashcans that might cause damage if airborne. Remove outdoor signs, especially those that swing or are portable. 
• Move merchandise, equipment or furniture away from windows or skylights. Elevate boxes or equipment, if possible. 
• Turn off electricity and disconnect all electrical appliances and equipment (except for refrigeration equipment), in case there is a power outage. An ensuing power surge, once power is restored, could be damaging to connected equipment. 
• Inform all employees on when and how you will notify them to report back to work. 
• For more tips, see Hurricane Safety Tips for Business Owners (MEMA). 

MEMA website and info www.mass.gov/mema