Cape Cod Emergency Resources
CAPE COD REGIONAL EMERGENCY SHELTERS
- Eastham Regional Shelter - Nauset Regional High School, 100 Cable Road, Pets NOT accepted at this location.
- Harwich Regional Shelter - Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, 351 Pleasant Lake Avenue, Pets ARE accepted at this location. Please bring carriers and pet food.
- Yarmouth Regional Shelter - DY Regional High School, 210 Station Avenue, Pets ARE accepted at this location. Please bring carriers and pet food.
- Barnstable Regional Shelter - Barnstable High School, 774 W. Main Street, Pets NOT accepted at this location.
- Sandwich Regional Shelter - Oak Ridge School, 365 Quaker Meetinghouse Road, Pets ARE accepted at this location. Please bring carriers and pet food.
- Mashpee Regional Shelter - On STANDBY – opening TBA, Mashpee High School, 500 Old Barnstable Road, Pets NOT accepted at this location.
What to bring to a shelter:
- Prescriptions and emergency medicine
- Extra clothes
- Pillows and blankets
- Hygiene supplies (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, razor, etc.)
- Important documents (driver's license, social security card, insurance information, wills, deeds and birth and marriage certificates)
- Battery-powered radio
- Comfort items (books, magazines, games etc.)
- Special items for family members who are elderly or disabled
- Families with children and infants should also bring special items such as diapers, formula and toys
- For specific local information, citizens should contact the emergency management office in their town.
CAPE COD EMERGENCY TRAFFIC PLAN
The updated Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan (CCETP) has been developed to facilitate egress of the high volume of traffic from Cape Cod in the event of a hurricane, particularly during the peak tourist season as well as prepare for the temporary sheltering of displaced persons. Although developed for a hurricane scenario, this 'All Hazards' Plan has been designed to be utilized in a number of emergency situations. This is not an Evacuation Plan. The term 'evacuation' applies to the movement of a population from low-lying, flood-prone areas to higher, safer ground. Most residents would be safe in their homes or at local designated mass care shelters. There would be no reason to evacuate the entire Cape in the event of a hurricane. During the summer months, however, it is anticipated that most tourists would attempt to leave the Cape & Islands if a serious hurricane is predicted.
"Like any plan, the Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan will only work with the full cooperation of the Public," stated Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Don Boyce. "To ensure the continued safety of individuals and their families, it is imperative that citizens carefully follow the life-saving instructions of their local and state officials, in a timely, responsible manner."
This plan was initiated following Hurricane Edouard, which approached Cape Cod & the Islands on Labor Day 1996. Within hours of the Governor's Declaration of a State of Emergency, a 6-8 hour backup, stretching an estimated 40 miles, occurred from the Sagamore Bridge to the Orleans Rotary along Route 6, due in large part to the challenges presented by the highway's rotaries.
The new Plan has two Phases.
Phase I of the CCETP is to eliminate the causes of congestion and keep traffic flowing in the area of the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges and the main arteries leading to them. This is primarily accomplished by prohibiting off-Cape access to Routes 6 and 28 at the base of both Bridges, controlling access to certain exits for the 'cross-Cape' Scenic Highway and Sandwich Road, and creating flexibility in the opening and closing of exits by the MA State Police in order to expedite off-Cape traffic flow across the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges.
These new traffic patterns will be accomplished by the coordination of MA State Police at crucial travel points, a series of prepositioned informational signs set up by MassHighway and continual Media announcements via WQRC (99.9 FM) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). There will be Emergency Traffic Plan signage along detour routes including both electronic message boards and permanent "Evacuation" route signs directing motorists to specific routes.
Off-Cape Traffic Heading West on Route 6 Those headed to Route 3 and points north can proceed over the Sagamore Bridge flyover and continue on Route 3 North via exit 1B.
Off-Cape Traffic heading west on Route 6 going to the Bourne Bridge to access Routes 25/195/495 will have multiple options including: Route 6 West over the Sagamore Bridge to Route 3 North via Exit 1B where they can detour at Route 44 West via Exit 7. Route 44 West will allow access to Routes 25/24/195/495/95 & 90 or traffic can detour off Route 6 West at Exit 2 in Sandwich, travel South on Route 130, enter the Mass Military Reservation (MMR) at the Convoy Gate and follow the detour through Otis AFB and Camp Edwards to Route 28 North at the Otis Rotary. Traffic then travels north to the Bourne Bridge and Routes 25/195/495.
Local Traffic on Route 6 West Can utilize Exit 1A after the Sagamore Bridge for access to the Sagamore Beach area and the Scenic Highway, which will only be available for local traffic. There will be no access to the Bourne Rotary, or Route 25
Off-Cape Traffic Traveling Route 28 North Those headed to Routes 25/195/495 should continue over the Bourne Bridge and access those roads per the usual exits.
Off-Cape Traffic traveling Route 28 North to points north or to Route 3 have two options: cross the Bourne Bridge, follow Route 25 North, to Route 495 North and take the detour at Exit 5 (Route 18/44) and take Route 44 East to the Route 3 exit where they can go north or south on Route 3 or access Route 6 West via Route 151 in Falmouth to Route 28 to Route 130.
Phase II of the CCETP will be activated when wind gusts reach 70 mph and higher, at which point the Army Corp of Engineers will close both the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges. Motorists still on the road will be directed to appropriate detours and shelters.
Off-Cape Traffic Heading West on Route 6 At this point, Route 6 West will be closed at Exit 2 in Sandwich. All traffic currently between Exit 2 and the bridge will be allowed to cross, however the bridges will be closed when this traffic has cleared. Any traffic still on the road when the bridges close, has the option of going to designated emergency parking areas in the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) and be sheltered there or seeking their own shelter elsewhere, until the storm passes. Those choosing to shelter at the MMR will be detoured from Route 6 West at Exit 2 onto Route 130 South to the Convoy Gate. From the Convoy Gate they will be directed to the designated emergency parking areas and to designated shelters.
Off-Cape Traffic traveling Route 28 North At this point, Route 28 North will be closed at the Otis Rotary as all traffic now between the Otis Rotary and the Bourne Bridges will be allowed to cross. The bridges will be closed when this traffic has passed. Any motorist still on the road has the option of going to the Massachusetts Military Reservation and to shelter there. Those choosing to shelter at the MMR will be detoured from Route 28 North into the main entrance of the Massachusetts Military Reservation. From there, motorists will be directed to the designated emergency parking areas and to designated shelters.
The Massachusetts Military Reservation shelter facilities can accommodate a large number of individuals, including those who may have special needs and those with family pets. The Massachusetts Military Reservation shelter facilities are staffed by American Red Cross personnel, along with trained personnel from the Medical Response Team (MRC), the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and the State Animal Response Team (SMART).
After the storm Once the storm has passed and it is deemed safe by officials, the Bridges will be opened and motorists will be notified that it is safe to travel.
The Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan has been developed by the cooperative efforts of many federal, state and local partners. Participants in this process have included representatives of MEMA, MA State Police, MA Army National Guard, MA Air National Guard, MA Military Reservation, MassHighway, American Red Cross, Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, State of Massachusetts Animal Emergency Response Team (SMART), National Weather Service, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Barnstable County Sheriff's Department, Barnstable Regional Emergency Planning Commission, Bourne and Sandwich Police Departments and numerous Public Safety and Emergency Management officials from the potentially impacted communities from Bourne to Provincetown and the Islands.
