New Bedford officials stress making a plan on Hurricane Preparedness Day

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell declared Wednesday as Hurricane Preparedness Day in an effort to get residents to be prepared.

The mayor gathered with other officials at the lowest-lying point in the city to stress the importance of hurricane safety plans.

“There’s a whole lot of land in the city that is not protected, that is fairly low lying, and we’re among those places right now,” Mitchell said. “And there are dangers even on the other side.”

Mitchell said that while the city has had hurricane plans before. the new one was a coordinated city-wide response using FEMA’s Evacuation Zone designations.

Zone A, the most at-risk area of the city, included the areas south of Cove Road and the perimeter of the South End peninsula.

Should evacuations become necessary the police department would go door-to-door.

“If I’m knocking on your door with rubber boots on, it’s time to go,” Police Chief Jason Thody said.

Keith Middle School was designated as the city’s emergency shelter, with New Bedford High School as a backup shelter.

Director of Emergency Management Brian Nobrega said that having an individualized plan was critical.

“Make an emergency kit, get all your items together, medication for three days,” he said. “Have a plan and clothing. If we open up a shelter, we don’t want you to come with nine suitcases like you’re going to a Royal Caribbean cruise. Just bring what you need for three to five days.”

The mayor stressed that just because the city hasn’t seen a hurricane in a long time doesn’t mean that one’s not coming.

“It is not a question of if, it is a question of when,” he said.

New Bedford residents can find their evacuation zone here.