Norwood Police Department

Emergency Preparedness Guide

The Norwood Police have put together the following tips that residents should review in advance of the storm:

Build an Emergency Kit – This kit should include food, water and other supplies necessary to last for at least a period of 72 hours. It’s possible that basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be cut off for several hours to several days.  Battery powered or hand crank radios to receive radio broadcast updates are a good item to have in your home. Also consider a first aid kit and a flashlight with extra batteries.

• Charge Your Electronics – With a hurricane comes a strong probability of the loss of electrical power. Make sure to charge all electronics to include cell phones, laptops, flashlights etc.  before the storm hits.

• Invest In a Corded Phone – Cordless phones within a household rely on power.  Should the power go out your cordless phones will no longer work.  A corded phone is inexpensive and works without the need for power.

• Remove Outdoor Decorations – Patio furniture, decorations, trash cans and other items are prone to being blown away.  Make sure to bring in all your items prior to the storm.

• Check Your Gutters/Downspouts - Plenty of rain is expected. Make sure it all has somewhere to go and that your gutters have not been clogged by leaves or other debris.

• Top Off Fuel Tanks – Fill up your motor vehicles fuel tank as well as your generator if you have one.  Gas pumps will not function without power.

• Driving Tips – If possible, stay off the road.  Treat all nonworking traffic lights as stop signs and proceed cautiously at intersections.

• Know Your Generator - Generator purchases for residential dwellings skyrocketed within the last few years.  Please thoroughly read all operating and maintenance instructions before using any generator.

During the storm avoid the following:

• - Leaving your home unnecessarily.  High winds are expected which means a lot of flying debris.  Stay clear.
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• - If you need to leave, advise others where you are going and avoid areas with potential for flash flooding.
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• - If you find yourself in a vehicle with downed utility wires on it remain in the vehicle.  Emergency personnel will safely remove you from the vehicle after insuring it is safe to do so.
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• - Avoid using the phone except for serious emergencies.
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• - 911 Is for Emergencies - Local police and fire departments will be experiencing a high call volume during the storm.  Please limit 911 calls for Emergencies Only.  To report downed utility lines or obstructions in the roadway please use our main line at 781-440-5100

Emergency Contacts:

• *All emergencies dial 911.
• *Verizon customers experiencing issues 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966)
• *Norwood Light Department customers 781-948-1150
• *National Grid Outage Report Line 1-800-465-1212
• *NStar Outage Line 800-592-2000