麻州交通禁令擴大禁葡萄園島的Dukes郡

           （Boston Orange編譯）麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）今（23）日下午3點才頒佈出行禁令，將近下午6點時，又再更新，解除4個郡縣的暴風雪緊急狀態，同時把交通禁令擴大進Dukes 郡，另外增派150名國民兵，協助東南部地區的除雪、搜救及殘骸清理。

奚莉州長更新交通禁令的原因是氣象局觀察到，Wellfleet出現時速98英里的陣風，葡萄園島那兒的Dukes郡也出現時速達71英里的陣風，大規模毀損東南部電力線路，更使麻州停電人家抖增至50萬戶。再者，這些地區下的雪是那種被稱為「大猩猩膠（Gorilla Glue ）」的雪，又濕又重，很容易壓垮路樹和電線。

此外，州政府相關單位在麻州東南部發現大量車輛受困，或被拋棄在路中央，僅只是今日下午2點左右，全州就有超過250輛車發生故障。奚莉州長為了讓國民兵和鏟雪隊能更有效率的處理道路積雪問題，因而增加交通禁令區域。

州長也下令州政府非必要員工，2月24日不必上班，並鼓勵企業雇主讓員工遠距上班。

奚莉州長也再次說明，警消醫療人員及電信維修人員等可豁免於交通禁令。查詢詳情可上網 Mass.gov/Snow。

Governor Healey Partially Lifts State of Emergency, Adds Martha’s Vineyard to Travel Ban 
Governor activates 150 more National Guard members for storm response in Southeastern Mass, 350 now activated 

 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey has lifted the blizzard state of emergency for Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. The state of emergency continues in effect for all other counties in the state.    

The travel ban issued for Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable counties remains in effect and Governor Healey is extending the ban to Dukes County. She has also activated an additional 150 members of the Massachusetts National Guard to assist with the response. 

Governor Healey has also directed that non-emergency Executive Department state employees should not report to their workplaces on Tuesday, February 24, and is urging employers to consider having employees work remotely to the extent possible, especially those subject to the travel ban. 

“While the worst of the storm is behind us and much of the state is turning to shoveling out, conditions remain severe and dangerous across Southeastern Massachusetts,” said Governor Healey. “We need everyone to stay off the roads for their own safety and to allow our crews to do their work – especially in Bristol, Plymouth, and Barnstable counties and on the Vineyard. We will also have additional members of the National Guard assisting municipalities with snow and debris removal, transportation, non-fire related emergency responses, rescues and any other needs. It will take some time for crews to address snow removal and power outages, so we urge everyone to remain cautious and patient while we work to get things back to normal.” 

Those who are exempt from the travel ban include: 

·          Public safety vehicles, sworn and civilian public safety personnel, including those providing services at correctional facilities, and private sector security personnel  

·          Public works vehicles and public works personnel, including contract personnel supporting public works operations  

·          Public transportation vehicles and public transportation personnel, including contract personnel supporting public transportation operations  

·          Government personnel conducting official business  

·          Utility company vehicles and personnel, including contract personnel supporting utility response and restoration efforts  

·          Personnel directly supporting storm response operations, including but not limited to emergency shelter personnel  

·          Personnel supporting human services facilities, including but not limited to residential housing programs and human services shelter operations  

·          Healthcare personnel, including but not limited to home healthcare personnel and personal care assistants  

·          Personnel delivering or supporting services at healthcare facilities, including those that provide long term care and mental health care, as well as hospitals and other healthcare facilities  

·          Vehicles and personnel providing critical supplies to healthcare facilities, including those that provide long term care and mental health care, as well as hospitals and other healthcare facilities  

·          News media  

·          Private sector snow removal equipment engaged in, or traveling in connection with the removal or clearance of snow and ice from public or private sector facilities  

·          Patients traveling for the purpose of receiving urgent critical care, and persons traveling with those patients who are necessary to facilitate that urgent critical care  

·          Travel necessary to maintain critical private sector facilities, services and operations, and to deliver or support critical private sector services and supplies in critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, fuel, financial systems, and the provision of critical commodities  

·          Travel to support business operations that provide critical services to the public, including gasoline stations, pharmacies, food stores and hardware stores 

Additional tips on what to do before, during, and after a winter storm can be found at Mass.gov/Snow.