Community Corner

UPDATED: Canton Storm Center: Tracking the New England Blizzard

Your place for emergency contact information, safety tips and more in Canton.

Be sure to check the Patch Live Blog during the blizzard this weekend!

In what could be the biggest snow storm New England has seen in more than two years, Canton could be among the communities in Massachusetts to see nearly two feet of the white stuff this weekend.  

With the lastest forecast, the National Weather Service has issued a blizzard watch for most of eastern Massachusetts including Canton, calling it a "potential historic winter storm".

Find out what's happening in Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Residents can expect the potential of snow falling at 3-to-4 inches per hour and wind gusts of more thsan 20 miles per hour.

Cancellations & Updates

Find out what's happening in Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Gov. Deval Patrick has banned all vehicles from driving on the roads effective 4 p.m. Friday. Those exempt include public utility and health care workers as well as delivery trucks and news media.
  • Canton Public Schools are closed on Friday, Feb. 8.
  • St. John the Evangelist School will be closed. 
  • Blue Hills Montessori School will be closed on Friday.
  • Mass Hospital School will be closed. 
  • The MBTA will suspend service on all lines at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.
  • The Fox 25 Morning News crew, which had planned to visit the Blue Hills Ski Area on Friday morning, has postponed the event to Friday, Feb. 22.
  • The Hockomock League Indoor Track Championships scheduled for Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston has been postponed.
  • The Canton High boys' ice hockey game against Mansfield Saturday has been postponed.
  • Seniors andanyone with medical conditions are advised to stay with family and/or friends throughout the storm.
  • Overnight, on-street parking is prohibited.
  • As of Friday morning, Logan Airport had cancelled more than 100 flights. Check with your airline on the status of your flight.
  • A message from the Boston Archdiocese:

The Catholic faithful are reminded to exercise prudence this weekend as they seek to fulfill their Sunday Mass obligation. Weather forecasts predict a significant amount of snowfall on Friday and Saturday, and Archdiocesan officials have already been in contact with parish staffs about the steps that can be taken to prevent building damage and accidents during the storm.

The Office of Divine Worship urges all Catholics to heed the travel advisories of their cities and towns, and to stay off the roads during the peak hours of the storm and plow operation. The faithful are encouraged to use good judgment when planning to travel to Mass. Hopefully the storm will have passed on Saturday, and roadways will be clear for travel on Sunday. In the event that roadways are not clear for travel on Sunday, the faithful are reminded that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass does not apply when there is grave difficulty in fulfilling this obligation. (See Code of Canon Law, Canon 1248 §2) 

The following is a partial list of phone numbers to call related to specific problems you may have in Canton.

Residents should not contact police regarding power outages, but should contact NSTAR or National Grid. In emergency situations, however, residents should not hesitate to call 9-1-1.

NSTAR has also released a list of emergency safety tips and is encouraging residents to prepare emergency safety kits.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has provided out a list of winter weather safety tips: 

  • Everyone should have supplies which would prepared them to survive on their own for at least three days. There should be some non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlights and extra batteries around the house, along with a portable radio or NOAA Weather Radio in case of power outages or other emergencies caused by a winter storm.
  • Additional items that should be included on your Winter Weather Supply List are a freshly-stocked first-aid kit, essential prescription medicines, non-perishable foods (those that require no refrigeration such as canned goods, dried fruits and nuts), a non-electric can opener, water (one gallon per person, per day), baby-care items, extra blankets, sleeping bags and a fire extinguisher.
  • Have sufficient heating fuel, as regular sources may be cut off. Have emergency heating equipment and fuel (a gas fireplace, wood burning stove or fireplace) so you can keep at least one room livable. Be sure the room is well ventilated.
  • Make sure your home is properly insulated. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows to keep cold air out.
  • Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide insulation.
  • To keep pipes from freezing, wrap them in insulation or layers of newspapers, covering the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture.
  • Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing.
  • Know how to shut off water valves.
  • If pipes freeze, remove insulation, completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they are most exposed to the cold. A hand-held hair dryer, used with caution, also works well.
  • Suggested items for a Winter Emergency Car Kit include a flashlight with extra batteries, a basic first-aid kit, necessary medications, a pocket knife, booster cables, a blanket or a sleeping bag, extra clothes (including rain gear, mittens and socks), non-perishable foods, a non-electric can opener, sand for generating vehicle traction, tire chains or traction mats, a basic tool kit (pliers, wrench, screwdriver), a tow rope, a container of water and a brightly colored cloth to serve as a flag, if necessary.
  • Ensure that your tires have adequate tread and keep your gas tank at least half-full. Plan long trips carefully, listening to the latest weather reports and road conditions.
  • Travel during the day, and if possible, try to take someone along with you.
  • Easy instructions are available at www.mass.gov/mema/mobileapp.
  • More winter emergency tips from MEMA can be found here.

Canton Patch will provide updates on closings, cancellations, and emergency information to this Storm Center throughout the weekend.  

Power outage in your neighborhood? Tree fallen or other impediments in a local roadway? Flash flooding? Share your information with Canton Patch and your neighbors here, or on our Facebook page.


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