Somerville bottled water distribution (for those in great need ONLY)

[ron_newman]

Hello, this is Jackie Rossetti from the City of Somerville with urgent information regarding the City’s Boil Water Order. Please listen CAREFULLY to the following information, as restrictions will apply to water resources and availability.

The City of Somerville has secured a VERY LIMITED supply of bottled water, which we will make available to residents in families with small children, elderly residents, or to those residents with compromised immune systems or disabilities. ALL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO BOIL WATER ARE ASKED TO CONTINUE DOING SO, as it will ensure that our limited supply is made available to those who are most in need.

Water distribution centers will be set up tonight, Monday, May 3rd, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in TWO locations. The DPW yard, located behind Trum Field at 1 Franey Road, and the East Somerville Community School yard on Cross Street will both be open while supplies last. Translation services will be available where possible. Again, residents who DO have the capability to boil water in their homes are asked NOT to visit these distribution sites.

For up-to-date information on the Boil Water Order, please visit www.mass.gov, or call 2-1-1. Thank you for your cooperation during this difficult situation.

Comments

[ron_newman]

I've never heard of 2-1-1 and wonder if she meant to write 3-1-1.

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

2-1-1 is the number MWRA is referring people to on their site (http://www.mwra.com/).

[arinamay.livejournal.com]

I saw the 211 number in the updates at http://www.mwra.com/updates/leak.html There it is described as the number to reach MEMA, which I think is the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

[m-b-w.livejournal.com]

http://211us.org/

http://www.mass211.org/

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Call 2-1-1 for Non-Emergency Assistance
MEMA and the Council of Massachusetts United Ways (COMUW) continue to promote Mass2-1-1 as the Commonwealth’s primary telephone information call center during times of emergency. The easy-to-remember 2-1-1 telephone number will be utilized as a 24/7 resource for human service and Public Safety/disaster response and planning agencies. It was designed, in part, to reduce the number of non-emergency calls made to 9-1-1.
This partnership offers citizens the opportunity for ‘one-stop-shopping’, with access to vital updated disaster information, numerous post-disaster programs, interpreter services, and call tracking of caller locations. Mass2-1-1 will also have the ability to act as the registration site for spontaneous volunteers and donations from the public during an emergency or crisis.

On a day-to-day basis, 2-1-1 is the national abbreviated dialing code for free access to health and human services Information and Referral. 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember and universally recognizable number that makes a critical connection between individuals and families seeking services or volunteer opportunities and the appropriate community-based organizations and government agencies. 2-1-1 makes it possible for people to navigate the complex and ever-growing maze of human service agencies and programs. By making services easier to access, 2-1-1 encourages prevention and fosters self-sufficiency.

Mass2-1-1 was created by The Council of Massachusetts United Ways on behalf of 22 local United Ways serving every community of the Commonwealth.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Public+Safety+Agencies&L2=Massachusetts+Emergency+Management+Agency&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=mema_feature_story_2008_feature_stories_2008_call_211_for_nonemergency_assistance&csid=Eeops

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Because if you have small children, you can't boil water?

Some of this should be going to Somerville's significant homeless population. They really can't boil water themselves.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Indeed. My concern has been that the people who most need help may be least likely to get it, but I suppose that's the usual.

Boy, am I glad to be out of town right now, though...

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

i could have written this exact comment, right down to the last bit :)

[keshwyn]

There's the possibility of inorganic contaminants such as trace amounts of motor oil or antifreeze that may have gotten into the reservoirs as runoff.

In a healthy adult, it does nothing because we have sufficient mass to cope. In an infant or small child, or someone with an already-damaged immune system, it can be much more of a problem.