City of New Bedford Announces Hurricane Lee Preparations

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — The City of New Bedford is making preparations as Hurricane Lee makes its approach toward New England.

The city, along with the rest of southern Bristol County, is currently under a Tropical Storm Watch with increasing winds expected Friday into Saturday.

“Buzzards Bay is not anticipated to experience a significant storm surge, but residents are advised to beware of possible rip currents and heavy surf on ocean-facing beaches,” the City said in a release. “Heavy rains may also produce localized flooding in low-lying areas.”

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Beaches and Ocean-Adjacent Features Closing Friday Night

City beaches and City-operated boat ramps will be closing to the public at 8 p.m. on Friday, September 15. Also closing at that time will be the CoveWalk, HarborWalk and Fort Taber park. Police will be making regular patrols of those areas and will be removing people from those sites.

Possible Closure of the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier Navigation Gate

The Army Corps of Engineers may make a determination regarding the closure of the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier in conjunction with high tide events.

The New Bedford Port Authority encourages all vessel owners to make arrangements for berthing or hauling in the harbor as far in advance of the arrival of storm conditions as possible. Vessel owners should monitor the usual channels for updates on the status of the Navigation Gate.

Buttonwood Park Zoo, City Recycling Center Both Closed Saturday

Buttonwood Park Zoo will be closed on Saturday, September 16, as will the City of New Bedford Recycling center, located at 1103 Shawmut Avenue.

New Bedford Regional Airport to Remain Open as Long as It’s Safe

The New Bedford Regional Airport will remain in operation for as long as it remains safe. Passengers should contact their air carriers, including Cape Air, directly to confirm their flight status.

Hurricane Preparedness Tips for Residents and Business Owners

Mayor Jon Mitchell advises residents and business owners to review the “Hurricane Preparedness Checklist” available on the City’s website and to take proactive steps to protect their property from rain and wind damage.

Important Emergency Contact Numbers

To report a downed power line, medical, fire, or other emergencies, please dial 911.

In the event of power loss, residents are encouraged to call Eversource at 1-800-592-2000 (residents should not assume that an outage affecting their location has already been reported).

Eversource strongly urges the public to stay away from all down wires and to report them immediately.

The New Bedford Police Department can also be reached on its non-emergency line at (508) 991-6350.