Readying for Sandy

Here's some information from the state emergency agency while you're feeling the wind strengthen.

Weather Emergency Terms You Should Know

Hurricane WARNING: A hurricane is expected in the warning area within 24 hours. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Hurricane WATCH: A hurricane is possible in the watch area within 36 hours. Stay tuned for additional advisories.

Be Prepared BEFORE a Hurricane Occurs:

• Determine if building(s) are in a hurricane evacuation area. Consult your local emergency management office (http://www.nhoem.state.nh.us/).

• Have pre-planned flood evacuation routes and practice using them.

• Make sure you have ready access to emergency equipment such as flashlights, first aid kits and a battery operated radio.

• Make plans to protect buildings. For example, pre-cut 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit, ready to install over windows and doors is an option.

• Know how to shut off utilities in your building(s).

• Secure buildings. Close storm shutters. Secure outdoor objects or bring them inside.

• Avoid elevators

• If power is lost, turn off major appliances to reduce power surge when electricity is restored

• Store valuables and important documents in a waterproof container on the highest level of your building.

  A backup generator properly installed in an outdoor setting is always useful in an emergency situation. If you have one, inspect it periodically to make sure
  it will function properly when needed. Always store fuel in UC / factory mu- tual approved containers away from the generator. Allow a cool down period before refueling.

  DURING and AFTER a Hurricane:

  • Listen for current weather reports and emergency information. 

• If you are not required to evacuate, stay indoors and away from windows. Go to the basement. If there is no basement, go to an interior part of the structure on the lowest level, closets, interior hallways and bathrooms. Do not be fooled if there is a lull, it could be the eye of the storm—winds will pick up again.

• Drive only when necessary. The streets may be filled with debris, making roads impassable.

• Stay away from downed power lines, trees and disaster areas.

• Water sources may have become contaminated.

• Avoid loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company, police, or fire department.

• Enter your building with caution.

• Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your building(s).

  Inspecting Utilities in a Damaged Building

  • Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window, quickly leave the building, and call your local fire department.

  • Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker do not do it!

  • Check for sewage and water line damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water utility.

    Emergency Preparedness information is available at the following websites:

    • NH Bureau of Emergency Management, http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/bem/ index.htmlNational Weather Service, http://www.nws.noaa.gov/alerts/nh.html

    • National Hurricane Center, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.shtml • Federal Emergency Management Agency, http://www.fema.gov/

    Contact your Primex3 Risk Management Consultant at 1-800-698-2364 if you have questions or need assistance in your storm preparedness planning. 

The Turbines Are Coming!

The Select Board has been talking about the new wind farm going up near us. Another may be coming much closer to us.  Sandi Pierson has been keeping up with the issue and send out this email recently; she gave us permission to post it. (I deleted references to a brochure, which I'll try to post.)

I'll start a discussion board if you want to get on it and report anything you've heard, or register your opinion. --Jay

I want to share with you a significant project proposed for towns surrounding Orange...

It is called the Wild Meadows Wind Power Project. ...  Iberdrola (an Italian firm from what I understand, though the turbines are American-made) leases the Groton and Lempster land and owns those wind "farms." For this area they are proposing thirty-six 454-foot-high wind turbines (duplicates of the ones in Groton and Lemster) in the towns of Grafton, Alexandria, and Danbury. Looking at the project area (see attachment), the ones closest to Orange, probably less than a mile, are a string of seven turbines on the Melvin Mountain ridge in Grafton. My home in Orange is at the foot of this ridge and I can say from my many bushwhack hikes up both Barber and Melvin mountains (whose summits are just above the Orange town line) that a number of people in Orange who are now  enjoying a view of Cardigan will be also viewing a number of the turbines. This is the reason for me sharing this information. It obviously affects more towns than where they are located.

 

I spoke in length with the head of the project, Ed Cherian, because obviously, in relation to noise, I will be one of their closest neighbors (on the map my road in Orange is misidentified as "PoorFarm Road"). Ed is happy to talk with all people who have questions, comments, or concerns about the project. Iberdrola is hosting a full informational meeting at the East Grafton town hall on November 13. A bus tour to Lempster is slated for the 17th, though Grafton residents have priority if the bus fills up. (Of course, you would  be welcome to follow in your own vehicle.)

 

After the Grafton meetings are complete, Ed would be glad to come to Orange (for better or worse, no doubt) to host a presentation and take comments and questions. This would probably be in December.

 

I will make a couple of notes from the presentation.

• The revenue received by Groton from the wind farm equals 100% of their municipal budget.
• The owner of the Groton land that is leased to Iberdrola is Green Acre Woodlands. This land investment firm recently purchased approximately 500 acres in Orange (all the former Casperson land). This is just FYI and not a suggestion that a wind project is coming to Orange.
• The owner of the Wild Meadow wind project land is Hardwicks of Francestown-- they purchased the 3500 acres of contiguous land a few years ago; 409 acres of this is in Orange. They recently bought 1000 acres covering Forbes Mountain in Danbury. Wind project aside, the Hardwicks have been very good seasonal neighbors and took great measures to make sure their logging operations did not interfere with the flavor of my home including a courtesy greenbelt logging buffer along my property line.

 

Sandi Pierson

Official Minutes from the October 8 Select Meeting

This for the meeting before last, just approved by the Select Board.  You'll find the minutes here.

Select Board Meeting Notes

This is from last night's meeting--informal notes by Dorothy Heinrichs. Feel free to comment.  When the official minutes are approved, we'll post them as always. --Jay

Leslie Bradley and Charlie Sova, candidates to represent Orange in the NH legislature, came to speak and answer questions. Dorothy wanted to know why, when the student debt of NH students is the highest in the nation, they thought slashing support for the university system was good for the long term economic health of the state.  Betty Fulton asked for communication with the townspeople and Selectboard. 

The head of the Groton Planning Board came and spoke about the wind project giving details about the initial phases of the project through power generation - which should begin in late November. The town negotiated a 15 year deal which will provide them with almost the equivalent of the entire municipal budget annually. Watch this space for more information on the possibility of a wind farm less than a mile from the Orange border.

The board approved a three year contract with Casella for trash/recycling collection.

Remember to vote on Election Day, November 6. The polls are open from 11 am until 7pm.

Update on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 2:47PM by OrangeNH

Correction: the proposed new wind farm wouldn't be within Orange, but would be within a mile of our border.

Barn Dance This Saturday

Rosemary Haness sent us notice of this dance, October 14 in the Enfield Community Building on Route 4. It's sponsored by the Cardigan Mountain Art Association.  A pot luck supper begins at 5:30, followed by dancing from 7 to 9.  The Old Sam Peabody Band provides the music, with Rachael Cohen doing the prompting. 

"No partner or experience necesssary," the flier says. No booze, either: it's an "alcohol- and drug-free family function." Nor is there a cover charge, though donations are welcome.

For information call 523-7292.  And you'll find it in the Orange Calendar.