Nor'easter Information Center: Swampscott Blizzard 2013

Sunday, Feb. 10

11:52 a.m. — Swampscott Public Schools are closed tomorrow, Feb. 11, for all students and staff, said High School Principal Layne Millington.

11:28 a.m. — The North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra has postponed its Winter Concert, scheduled for February 10, to next Sunday, February 17,  3 p.m. at Swampscott High School.

11:26 a.m. — Sunday's boys lacrosse clinic has been canceled due to the weather. Our next clinic will be Sunday 2/17.

11:25 a.m. — The MBTA weather update says regularly scheduled MBTA service will resume Monday morning.

“Customers should expect significant delays and plan extra time for their Monday morning commute as MBTA service recovers from the impacts of the storm. Due to significant snow accumulations, customers are encouraged to use caution at station platforms and bus stops,” the site says.

9:53 a.m. — Today's North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra concert has been cancelled.

12:07 a.m. — MBTA service will remain suspended through Sunday. Monday

Saturday, Feb. 9

6:51 p.m. — Cindy's Pizza and subs is delivering, too. 

Cindy's

653 Humphrey St  Swampscott, MA 01907
(781) 599-0358

6:35 p.m. — We found two food places in Swampscott that are open for delivery, China Green Chinese food and Captain Pizza.

Expect an hour for Chinese food delivery and up to one hour 45 minutes for pizza delivery.

China Green

781-203 Burrill St  Swampscott, MA 01907
(781) 592-5357

Captain Pizza

3 Railroad Ave  Swampscott, MA 01907
(781) 593-1568

6:04 p.m. — The CVS store just reopened. Walgreens has been open all day — but its pharmacy is closed.

The Walgreens store closes at 10 p.m. tonight.

CVS is open 24 hours a day barring problems including storms or power outages.

5:54 p.m. — The restoration time for the three locations without power is 10 p.m., according to Nationa Grid. At one location, Winshaw, Cliff and Gale Roads, 23 homes are still without power.

A few businesses are listed as being without power in the Vinnin Square area.

Also, a few homes off Humphrey in the Redington area are listed as being without power.

5:35 p.m. — Three locations in town are without power including the Vinnin Square area and Phillips Point, acording to National Grid. Power was restored to the CVS store.

5:31 p.m. — There was a water main break earlier today at Banks Terrace. Water service still flowing to homes but water showign in the street. The DPW director did nto know how long it would take to fix the break since contractors are busy with storm work.

1:56 p.m. — Some DPW crews will be taking front-end loaders to open snow-covered dead-end streets in town. DPW Director Gino Cresta projects the crews will work until late tonight, 10 or so, then go home for rest. The blizzard prep started 7 a.m. Friday for some crew members.

Workers will return to work Sunday and resume clean-up from the storm.

1:53 p.m. — This morning's surging tide tossed rocks and other seaside debris on to Puritan Road. The sections of road near Eisman's, Fisherman's, King's and Preston Beaches will remain closed unitl about 4 p.m., said the DPW director. This will give the department time to get loaders into those areas scrape the roads.

1:13 p.m. —  The governor's officer reports that the statewide driving ban will be lifted as of 4 pm today.

12:36 p.m. — A heart attack reported in town as a resident was shoveling snow. Medical experts say shoveling and snowblowing can put great strain on the heart, especially for those who do not exercise regularly.

11:57 a.m. — The MBTA will remain shut down through Saturday due to the storm. Crews are clearing tracks  to get the subways, commuter rail trains and buses back up and running but the MBTA does not have an estimate on when service will resume.

11:21 a.m. — Local officials remind people to stay off the roads so crews can continue their work clearing streets. Walkers need to be careful because the snowbanks are so high — and are only going to get higher with additional plowing — that visibility is cut down for the drivers of plows and other essential vehicles on the road.

11:16 a.m. — Water is receding. Roads remain closed at four locations. Eisman's, King's Preston and Fsiherman's Beaches but should reopen in an hour.

10:10 a.m. — Water is reportedly up to the front step at Dianne Fanjoy's King's Beach home.

10:06 a.m. — Fire Department checking the Beach Club area. 

10 a.m. — Sounds like there may be a rock in the road on Atlantic Avenue. That section is impassable.

9:59 a.m. —  Correction. Water coming over the wall by the Beach Club. 

9:40 a.m. — Water was at the sidewalk at King's Beach resident Dianne Fanjoy reported.

9:18 a.m. — Water has spilled into the street at Whales, Preston and King's beaches. The roads have been closed there to let plows move slush. The Fire Department is monitoring the situation, said Fire Chief Kevin Breen. The situation is OK but just OK, he said.

9:12 a.m. — Water is expected to spill into the street at Whales/Eismans and over the seawall at Kings Beach.

9:07 a.m — The DPW director says windrows are four to five feet high. He is expecting one more heavy band of snow by 10 a.m. then it is predicted to taper off. All of the DPW 14 trucks are plowing and half the contractors — about 12 plow trucks. Some of the contractor trucks have broken down.

8:38 a.m. — DPW Director Gino Cresta tells us that it is very slow going for plow crews. Swampscott has about two feet of snow. The intensity of the snow has made it very difficult for plows to keep up with the snow. The main riads are wider but they have only a single lane plowed on some thru-roads such as Burpee and Ocean.

The director asks that people stay off the road. Some pick-up trucks that have ventured out to plow driveways have gotten stuck. There were no cars on the road last night but some people have ventured out this morning and this hinders snow removal.

8:16 a.m. — Waves are reportedly crashing over the seawall by Kings Beach. And high tide isn't for another two hours.

8:15 a.m. — Looks like power has been restored to some of the homes on Phillips point.

12:15 a.m. — Channel 5's Harvey Leonard said at 11 p.m. Friday that many locations in eastern Mass. had received more than a foot of snow. And, he said, another foot of snow could fall or more could fall before all was said and done.

In any event snow totals were going to pile up over night.

Snow was falling heavily at 11 p.m. Gusts of 50 or 60 mph were expected to continue through the night.

A 76 mph gust was registered at Logan airport late Friday night.

 12:10 a.m. — National Grid has yet to estimate when power will be restored to the 23 homes without power on Winshaw, Cliff and Gale Roads.

Friday, Feb. 8

9:10 p.m. — The DPW director estimated the crews will be working straight through until Sunday morning, with a four-hour break after working 24 hours straight.

9:06 p.m. — No flooding reported. Twenty-one contractors are helping the 14 DPW trucks on the road.

9:04 p.m. — About 5 or 6 inches on the ground in Swampscott, says DPW Director Gino Cresta. Biggest test for DPW plowers is the visibility, white-out conditions. Otherwise, the roads are free of traffic and parked cars clearing a path for the plows.

8:22 p.m. — The Phillips Beach homes without power are on Winshaw, Cliff and Gale Roads.

7:33 p.m. — 23 customers are reportedly without power in the Phillips Point area, near Phillips Beach.

7:17 p.m — Firefighters were called to a fire at 402 Paradise Road earlier about 5:30 p.m. Residents had put out the fire upon their arrival. Window curtains were blowing around and caught fire when they came in contact with a lighted candle, said Swampscott fire Capt. Graham Archer.

7:09 p.m. — Firefighters will be driving along the shore checking areas including the lower Puritan Road end, the points, and the Phillisp Beach area for possible flooding before and after high tide hits Saturday night at 10.

6:57 p.m. — The fire chief said in a email to residents that other than potential extended power outages which we will be monitoring our biggest concern is for the potential for moderate to severe coastal flooding.  Based on current predictions we are not calling for mandatory evacuations or opening any shelters at this time,  however plans are in place to open shelters if necessary.  Residents in low lying coastal areas should be aware of conditions around the times of High tide at 9:45 PM tonight and 10:02 AM tomorrow Morning.  

3:25 p.m. — Humphrey Street is reportedly a iced over. DPW is salting and sanding the road.

1:45 p.m. — Wind gusts could reach hurricane force in some coastal locations in this storm.

1:43 p.m. — If the town needs to open an emergency shelter it will be either the high school or senior center, also located at the high school. 

1:41 p.m. — Swampscott's emergency management team is made up of department heads including fire, police and public works. They have been meeting the last few days and met most recently late this morning. 

1:29 p.m. — Fire Chief Kevin Breen reminds residents that if power goes out and people rely on fireplaces and candles for heat and light do not leave them unattended. And keep an eye on wood stoves and portable devices, if you use them.

1 p.m. — The governor declared a state of emergency at noon. Cars must stay off the road starting at 4 p.m.

11:10 a.m. — Parking ban at 3 p.m.. See below for more details.

11:07 a.m. — George Allen, our local weather man on the hill, tells us wind will be a large part of this event. Check here for local data.
http://raws.wrh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/roman/meso_base.cgi?stn=D2257&unit=0&time=LOCAL&graph=1

11:06 a.m. — Latest forecast is upping the totals. Three feet in some places. 

12:42 a.m. — Latest forecast still calling for 16-24-inches of snow on the North Shore. Some pockets of 30-plus inches in eastern Massachusetts. Blizzard warning in effect. 

Thursday, Feb. 7

10:27 p.m. — Earlier tonight the town sent out the info below about parking, closings and postponements: 

A parking ban shall be declared effective Friday, February 8th at 3:00 pm. Please make arrangements to have all vehicles off public roadways during the Emergency Parking Ban. Barring any unforeseen changes in the expected snowfall, the ban will be declared as of 3PM tomorrow, and continue until the event and clean-up efforts conclude. This may be modified if weather patterns change.  

The Swampscott Senior Center will be closed on Friday, February 8th. In addition, the Senior Center Valentine’s Day Party, planned for Saturday, February 9th has been rescheduled to Sunday, February 17th at 1pm.

The Swampscott Public Library will be closed on Saturday, February 9th.  

All youth activities being held in the Middle School and High School planned for Saturday, February 8th have been cancelled. 

Finally, Residents are urged to assist the Fire Department by clearing snow from fire hydrants in and around their property. 

5:51 p.m. — Blue Bargains will be closed on Saturday.  Stop by Wednesday, for last minute Valentine's Day shopping. 

5:47 p.m. — #MBTA Service Suspended on All Lines Effective 3:30 PM on Friday, this includes T and commuter rail and bus, everything.

5:43 p.m. —  Several areas along the Swampscott waterfront are susceptible to flooding, says town DPW Director Gino Cresta.

They include Humphrey Street from the Lynn line to Monument Avenue; on Puritan Road from Fisherman's Beach to Smith Lane; and on Atlantic Avenue from Beach Bluff to the Marblehead line.

5:28 p.m. — The boys basketball games scheduled at Gloucester on Friday, gave been postponed, new dtae and time to TBA.

The boys ice hockey game with Salem at Salem State has been postponed to Monday, 2-11-13 at 6:30pm

5:24 p.m. — The rest before the storm.

The DPW garage's fuel tank is filled with 1,800 gallons of fuel, its salt shed has plenty of salt, its sand is piled and ready to be spread. 

Plows are attached to trucks, truck fluid levels are checked and contractors are on call, said DPW Director Gino Cresta.

DPW crews are at home resting in anticipation of long hours Friday and Saturday and into Sunday morning, the direcor said.

The director recalls that the last big storm, with around 30 inches, was back in 2007. DPW crews worked 40 hours.

5:15 p.m. — A blizzard warning is in effect for Swampscott. By Friday night expect wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour, resulting in blowing and drifting of snow and white-outs. Damage to trees and structures along with scattered power outages are anticipated. Expect snowfall at 3-to-4 inches of snow per hour. 

4:22 p.m. - Swampscott Public Schools are cancelled for Friday.

1:11 p.m. – Here are the cancellations we have so far. The PTA/Hadley School dance that was planned for Friday night at the Middle School was rescheduled for Feb. 14, at 6:30.

Over at the high school, the Swampscott track teams' annual pancake breakfast that was set to take place Saturday morning has been postponed until Saturday, March 2.

And Whole Foods Market has postponed its Chocolate Fest until Monday, Feb 11, from 5-7 pm. 

1:13 p.m.— DPW Director Gino Cresta said yesterday that the department was geared up for the storm with plows attached and other items ready to go. We will check in later.

Scroll down for important phone numbers, websites and more. Stay with Swampscott Patch as we keep you updated throughout the storm.

See a tree down or other dangerous situation in your neighborhood? Notice a road is icy or closed? Just saw a store clerk put out more snow melt products? Please use this story on Swampscott Patch to help out your neighbors.

As we prepare for the winter storm, we want to make sure that Swampscott stays connected. For live updates during the storm, be sure to download our App for your smartphone or tabletand 'like' Swampscott Patch on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS & WEBSITES: 

• In an emergency, dial 911
• Police Department: 781-595-1111
• Fire Department: 781-595-4050
• Public Works Department:
• National Grid gas emergencies: 800-233-5325
• Comcast: 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278)
• Verizon: 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966)
• RCN: 1-866-TECH-RCN (1-866-832-4726) 
• MBTA Swampscott station: Service updates

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