Cape Ann preparing for power outages, flooding

GLOUCESTER, Mass. — By late Thursday afternoon, the wind began picking up along Western Avenue, site of the famed Fisherman Statue, as a DPW sign flashed “Storm Warning.”

“We’re going to have astronomically high tides, coupled with wind, with rain,” said Mayor Gregory Verga. “It could get ugly.”

Verga said in some ways this storm could be more problematic than a typical winter storm — especially given Gloucester’s more than 60 miles of coastline, some of it at or below sea level.

“Gale-force winds and we’re looking at a quick freeze the next day, so this might be a little worse than snow,” he said.

At the moment, Verga said the city hasn’t planned for shelters — though it is likely some residents will lose power. How long that power stays out will be a determining factor in what the city will do.

“We have to be prepared for anything that’s going to hit us,” he said. “And power failure is probably going to be the big one.”

Some residents are already planning for the lights to go out.

Case in point, sisters (and neighbors) Cynthia and Marian Burrell.

“I’m expecting that I might lose power,” Marian said. “I don’t expect to get flooded. But if we do lose power I’m just going to cry.”

“I’ve never had water damage,” Cynthia added. “So I’ve just got my fingers crossed. I’m probably gonna lose power for sure. That happens frequently.”

Electrician John Shields, who was working on Cynthia’s house, said it’s a little late to install a generator — but he does expect the storm to affect the grid.

“The power company’s saying they’re bringing extra trucks in,” Shields said. “So they’re looking at quite a few outages in the area.”

Al Bolcome, another Western Avenue resident, said he’s comforted by history — to an extent.

“I’ve been here 19 years and it’s never flooded over the street,” Bolcome said. “But with the extra high tide coming tonight — and they say it could be two feet higher — I’m not going to take any chances.”

Bolcome planned to move his car to higher ground.

Daniel Molloy is preparing for the worst.

“It could do street flooding down the end of the road,” he said. “It could cause damage, it could cause power outages and debris all over the neighborhood.”

Fortunately, Molloy got to the grocery store before the storm.

“I got everything from macaroni and cheese to chicken noodle soup,” he said.

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