Brookline Office of Emergency Management

Emergencies are by definition unexpected and disruptive. Whether it's a medical emergency, a flood in your building, or a complete loss of power in the neighborhood, being prepared with a go bag for such events will help us fare better and be more resilient. Join us at the Putterham Library on Monday, May 12 at 1 PM to prepare your very own! Please visit the event page for more information: https://buff.ly/xwEUj0x

Be ready. Be safe. Be informed.

❄️ Brookline, better bring out those extra layers! We're looking at bitter cold temps continuing the next few days. Night time wind chills approaching zero, Coolidge Corner is going to feel more like the the Himalayas!

Here are some crucial cold weather safety tips:

1. Layer your clothing properly - start with a moisture-wicking base layer, add an insulating middle layer (like wool or fleece), and finish with a waterproof outer layer. Multiple thin layers work better than one thick layer since they trap warm air between them.

2. Protect exposed skin and extremities - frostbite can occur in just 30 minutes when temperatures drop below freezing. Wear insulated gloves, thick socks, a warm hat, and cover your face with a scarf when outdoors. Pay special attention to nose, ears, fingers, and toes.

3. Prevent frozen pipes - keep faucets dripping slowly and open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warmer air to circulate. Know where your main water shutoff valve is located in case a pipe bursts. Keep your home heated to at least 55°F (13°C), even when you're away.

4. Never use generators, grills, or camp stoves indoors. If using space heaters, keep them at least 3 feet away from anything flammable and never leave them unattended.

5. Be sure to check on elderly neighbors and the vulnerable population - we're all in this deep freeze together!

Brrr 🥶

Very cold temperatures and gusty winds will continue to combine for single digit wind chills today, slowly warming over the next several days. 🥶

Be ready. Be safe. Be informed.

Trying to beat the cold this winter without sacrificing your iced coffee? Remember these important space heater safety tips:

-Make sure it’s 3 feet away from anything flammable.
-Plug it directly into a wall outlet.
-Keep it on a flat surface.
-Unplug it when it's not in use.

Be ready. Be safe. Be informed.

With 🧊temps expected to drop over the next few days, don’t forget about your pipes! To prevent pipes from freezing:

-Make sure they are insulated
-Let water drip from faucets
-Open your cabinet doors to allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes
-Set your heat to 55 °F or higher

Please see our recently released statement with information about the recent Muddy River incident. https://ow.ly/zmI050UnWu2

We appreciate everyone’s concern and offers of help. However, it’s important to remember that wildlife rescue is a complex and specialized task. To ensure the safety of both humans and animals, we encourage members of the public can report sightings of injured wildlife to NEWC’s hotline at 508-362-0111 and to not approach or attempt to aid impacted waterfowl.

Be ready. Be safe. Be informed.

Remember, if you lose power, report the outage to your service provider and if you see downed power lines, stay away and call 911.

Unitil: 1-888-301-7700
National Grid: 1-800-465-1212
Eversource:
Eastern MA: (800) 592-2000
Western MA: (877) 659-6326

Be ready. Be safe. Be informed.

❄️Parts of Massachusetts are expected to get snow ❄️ Wednesday night into Thursday morning, which could impact driving conditions.
Prepare ahead of time by:
🚧 Checking road conditions and the forecast.
🚨Packing an emergency supply kit.
🚗Making sure your vehicle is ready to hit the road.

Learn more: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/safe-winter-driving-tips
Check out the latest forecast on the US National Weather Service Boston MA's website: https://www.weather.gov/

Be ready. Be safe. Be informed.

While weather conditions look great today, tomorrow may be a different story. If you hit the road and head north or west on Thanksgiving Day, you could see some snow.

Make sure your winter emergency car kit is stocked with items like jumper cables, a phone charger and a flashlight with batteries. Learn more at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/prepare-your-vehicle-for-winter-driving.

Be ready. Be safe. Be informed.

Thank you to Governor Maura Healey for encouraging fire safety outdoors! Many communities have banned outdoor fires because of high-risk brush and wildland fire conditions: please refrain from any activity that involves open flames, sparks and embers, or other ignition sources: https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-joins-fire-officials-in-urging-outdoor-fire-safety

Brookline residents can now create a FREE Smart911 profile for their household. Link your cellphone numbers to your home address, provide the information you want first responders to know if you were to call 911.
Sign up or www.smart911.com or text "Smart911" to 67283.
For more information www.BrooklineMA.gov/Smart911