300,000 blackouts Monday afternoon

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - “This is a monster storm,” said Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) to reporters after touring the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency bunker in Framingham.  “This [storm] is probably going to be over a thousand miles wide.”

As of 4 o'clock Monday afternoon, state officials said winds associated with Hurricane Sandy had left more than 100,000 homes without power in Massachusetts. By 5 o’clock the number nearly tripled to 300,000. No injuries or serious damages were reported, but the storm isn’t over.

“We are about an hour and a half into the period of Hurricane Sandy where the winds are strongest and that is expected to continue until about 11 o’clock this evening,” said Gov. Deval Patrick.

Officials warn that more power outages are expected and utility crews will not be on the ground until weather conditions become safe.

To be prepared for blackouts, MEMA says you should have with you non-perishable food, water, a first aid kit, batteries, a flashlight and a portable radio. 

If you rely on public transportation, you should plan on staying home.  Several regional transportation authorities have shut down service, including the PVTA. Transit authorities hope to clear roadways of debris by tomorrow to reopen bus routes.

“Their issue obviously is road conditions because that is just all bus service, so they’ll rely on Mass highway and local officials to make sure those bus routes are clean and clear,” said Department of Transportation Secretary Richard Davey.

MEMA predicts Massachusetts will feel the greatest impact of the storm this evening until Tuesday morning.  They advise you not to drive, but if you do, keep both hands on the wheel and watch for flying debris.