Fire, Police and Public Works Departments Await Sandy

Fire, police and public works crews will be on the job and ready to respond to calls Monday.

And department heads will be at work, too.

But other Town Hall employees were asked to not come in to work, said Swampscott fire Chief Kevin Breen. Schools and the town library will be closed.

Meanwhile, the fire department is bringing aboard an extra crew and activating a reserve fire engine on Monday.

This will give the department additional hands and equipment in case they are needed to respond to emergencies such as downed power lines or evacuations from flooded areas, fire chief said.

Public Works Director Gino Cresta said that he had two crew members on standby Sunday night.

Otherwise the department will be at work Monday ready to block off roads, clear downed tree limbs and clear any clogged drains.

Their chipper and bucket truck and chainsaws were readied for action on Friday.

High tide will arrive at 11:30 a.m. 

Locations that typically flood along the coast include King's Beach, Fisherman's Beach and Preston Beach, the director said. 

Non-emergency town workers were asked on Sunday night to not come in to work Monday due to the potential for dangerous conditions from the Atlantic super-storm, Sandy, the Swampscott fire chief said.

The decision was in line with Gov. Deval Patrick's request that non-emergency state workers stay home from work Monday. He also urged schools to close and private employers to ask their workers to not come in.

The idea is to keep the roads open and people safe.

"To help keep the roads clear for emergency personnel and to keep people safe from flying limbs and debris or from down power lines, I am first of all requesting all schools including colleges and early education programs to close Monday, for the safety of students and employees alike," Patrick said.

All state office buildings will be closed.

"And I am encouraging private employers to follow our lead and have their workers stay home as well," Patrick said.

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Kurt Schwartz said coastal communities are in danger of severe coastal flooding and some may need to be evacuated.