Officials open shelters

Ice Storm 2008

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December 12, 2008

Officials open shelters

By J.J. Huggins The Eagle Tribune Fri Dec 12, 2008, 04:23 PM EST

With a cold night ahead and power likely to be out a day or more in some places, emergency crews opened shelters throughout the region to take in residents without power and, in many cases, heat or water.

The Merrimack Valley Chapter American Red Cross opened a shelter at North Andover High School around 10:45 a.m. The high school has power, said Deb Duxbury, director of emergency services for the Merrimack Valley Red Cross.

The school is at 430 Osgood St..

Methuen officials opened a shelter at Comprehensive Grammar School at 100 Howe St.

Lawrence had not set up a shelter, but there are several homeless shelters and food pantries in the city that people can go to, said Nora Carroll, chief of staff for Mayor Michael Sullivan.

In Andover, anybody who needs a place to go can walk into the Senior Center, said Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski. The Senior Center is on Whittier Court, behind the town office building at 36 Bartlett St.

"The Senior Center is open and they are serving food," he said. "The Senior Center is open, the library is open, so that's two municipal sites that have power that are warm."

Stapczynski encouraged people to stay with relatives if they can and to be patient, because it will take time for National Grid to restore power.

In Haverhill, Mayor James Fiorentini declared a state of emergency. The Haverhill Citizens Center at 10 Welcome St. is serving as a shelter, said Andrew Herlihy, chief of staff for the mayor.

In New Hampshire, Londonderry High School has been opened as a regional shelter for Derry, Londonderry and Litchfield.

Residents needing shelter may call the Londonderry shelter hotline at 603-845-5522 for information and help. Transportation will be provided for those who need it.

Residents who choose to go to the shelter should be sure to bring a change of clothes, a pillow, medications, toiletries and other comfort items.

Plaistow Deputy police Chief Kathleen Jones said officials there were working to set up an emergency shelter in Kingston or Plaistow, but had not finalized those plans as of 11 a.m.

Windham officials were meeting to determine where and when to open a shelter.

Methuen Mayor William Manzi declared a state of emergency. One of many areas of concern is the Housing Authority, Manzi said.

"I have elderly citizens that I have to be concerned about now," he said.

All public school districts in the area are closed. Hospitals are open.

Night shift nurses at Lawrence General stayed late to cover for incoming nurses on the first shift who were tardy because of the weather, said Kelley Granahan, a development specialist at the hospital.

Marion Gerardi of 18 Butternut Lane, Methuen, was one of the few lucky ones who had power at her home. She marveled at two white, ice-coated birch trees that collapsed on her front lawn.

"It's looks like a post card," she said.

Luckily, the trees didn't cause any damage, she said.

At 9:18 a.m., Doppler radar indicated the rain exited the region and it will remain dry for the rest of the day, according to the National Weather Service.

However, the heavy rain of the last day will continue to cause small stream and river flooding, they warned.

Temperatures are expected to drop to around 16 degrees tonight, with dry west wind gusts up to 32 miles per hour. The expected high for tomorrow is 27 degrees, with west wind gusts up to 22 miles per hour.

Local Shelters

North Andover

North Andover High School, 430 Osgood St.

Andover

Senior Center, Whittier Court, behind the town office building at 36 Bartlett St.

Haverhill

Haverhill Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St.

Lawrence

Daybreak Shelter, 19 Winter St., 978-975-4547

Lazarus House, 410 Hampshire St., 978-689-8575

Neighbors in Need, 95 East Haverhill St., 978-685-8321

Cor Unum, 192 Salem St., 978-688-8900