Shelter, Emergency Center To Open

The town shelter for residents who need to leave their homes during the storm will be open sometime Sunday. 

On that same day, the town's Emergency Operations Center will also open, according to town director of emergency management Ray Mead. 

Although the shelter at the Municipal Center will be available, Mead encouraged people to stay at home if at all possible. They are generally safer there than they would be trying to travel in the storm, he said.

The latest track of Hurricane Irene sends it right through central Massachusetts as a Category One hurricane, with 90 to 100 mile per hour winds, or a very strong tropical storm, with 75 to 90 mile per hour winds, Mead said.

Mead received this information in an hour-long call at 12:30 p.m. today with officials from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA.)

Areas east of the track will experience extensive wind damage and power outages. Heavy rain, about 5 to ten inches, will occur west of the track.

Very serious inland flooding is possible.

High winds will begin Sunday afternoon. The storm Is expected to last 24 hours.

The govenor declared a State of Emergency effective at 12:30 today.

Mead will speak to MEMA officials again at 6:30 p.m.