Important Hurricane Maps
The New Bedford Emergency Management Department and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency utilize the federal government’s evacuation zone system in emergency situations. In New Bedford, there are three evacuation zones: A, B and C. MEMA’s online interactive mapping tool lets residents see a color-coded map of the City’s evacuation zones. Residents can also type in their address to find their specific evacuation zone letter.
Anyone without internet access, needs help finding their zone, or has questions about evacuation zones, can call the New Bedford Emergency Management Department at 508-961-3060.
Evacuation routes in general are to take people from south to north. In the case of those in the South End, all those north of South Rodney French Boulevard will head north on Brock Avenue to Route 18. All residents west of Padanaram Avenue will use Bolton Street to evacuate northwest onto Rockdale Avenue.
Keith Middle School, 225 Hathaway Blvd., is the designated emergency shelter for those who must evacuate or others in need.
National Storm Surge Risk Maps
The National Hurricane Center has a snapshot of New Bedford and the other coastal communities throughout the United States and the risk of storm surge based on the strength of a hurricane. From the NHC: “The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically the National Weather Service’s (NWS) National Hurricane Center (NHC), utilizes the hydrodynamic Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) model to simulate storm surge from tropical cyclones. Storm surge information is provided to federal, state, and local partners to assist in a range of planning processes, risk assessment studies, and operational decision-making.”