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Chatham officials say those planning to evacuate should leave today

E-mail|Link|Comments () September 2, 2010 04:57 PM

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By Peter Schworm and Eric Moskowitz, Globe Staff

CHATHAM - Emergency officials in this Cape Cod town are suggesting that residents leave today if they plan to evacuate because of Hurricane Earl, the dangerous storm expected to slam the Massachusetts coast tomorrow night.

Forecasters warn that Earl could bring strong winds that would likely knock out power across large swaths of Cape Cod. Chatham, located on the southeastern tip, is particularly vulnerable.

"If we get the winds they're talking about, it's going to be knocked out," Fire Chief Michael Ambriscoe said. "That will be the bulk of our problem."

Ambriscoe recommended people leave today to avoid expected delays Friday. He said people should not travel to Chatham until well after the storm has passed.

Officials said low-lying areas could be susceptible to flooding from anticipated storm surges. They suggested that people in the low-lying areas of North Chatham and Morris Island and Little Beach make decisions on whether to evacuate today.

Residents who decide to stay should stock up on food and emergency supplies, Ambriscoe said. An emergency shelter will be set up at the Cape Cod Technical School in Harwich, he said.

Officials are tracking the storm closely and warn that while it is expected to pass near Nantucket, it could veer closer to the mainland.

"We're just waiting to see what happens," Ambriscoe said. "But if it changes course and heads for us, we're in trouble."

The two bridges off Cape Cod close when winds reach 70 miles per hour, he said. Officials expect that people will leave the Cape in droves Friday, creating massive delays. The better choice, officials said, is to leave today.

With surf already high, officials closed all ocean-side beaches to swimming, and warned that rip currents pose "a significant risk."

Meanwhile, out on the beach, it was perfect today -- hot and hazy, the sun overhead, the weather in the 80s. The breeze was mild.

At Lighthouse Beach, close to the water, beach supervisor Vince Gulotta pulled his four-wheeler up to a family of Canadian tourists, asking a pair of brothers playing catch -- Caelan and Cameron Flemming, 9 and 13 -- to back up from the surf, lest they be tempted to go in after an errant football.

"It's kind of frustrating, I know," Gulotta said, talking with the boys' parents. "It's such a nice beach day."

Ted Flemming, 39, said he and his family were working their way north on an Atlantic Coast vacation, trying to keep ahead of Earl, with limited success. They arrived on the Cape Wednesday and planned to stay through Sunday.

"Batten down the hatches," Gulotta advised.

"Hope for the best," Flemming said. "It can't be too bad, can it?"

"We've been saying that since Tuesday," Gulotta said, "and it's been getting increasingly worse."