The Storm One year ago, just after noon on July 23, 2019, a rare tornado touched down in Harwich and headed towards Chatham. We were rocked by straight-line winds and the tornado’s remnants as the storm headed out to sea. It was on the ground for 2.77 miles and lasted 5 minutes. While we lost many trees and utilities were heavily damaged, there were no significant

structural losses in Town, and thankfully, no one was injured.

The impact from that storm was powerful but it was over quickly, and we met the challenges of recovering together as a community. Special thanks to Town staff for their work in the aftermath.

This year we face a storm of much longer duration with impacts not to trees and powerlines but to lives and livelihoods. I don’t know how long we will have to endure this public health emergency, but I am confident we will support each other for as long as it takes to see our community through it.

Thank you, Jill R. Goldsmith, Town Manager

CHATHAM CASE COUNT 7/22/2020 Total: 23

July 22, 2020

Board of Selectmen Action On Tuesday, July 21, 2020 the Board of Selectmen voted to rescind their vote of May 18, 2020 to call a Special Town Meeting on September 19, 2020 after hearing from staff and petitioners on the relative urgency to act on articles included in the original 2020 Annual Town Meeting warrant which were removed or action on which was deferred. An article seeking appropriation of funds for stormwater drainage work was of concern due to deadlines for applications to the State Revolving Fund for low interest loans. Dr. Robert Duncanson reported that he had discussed the timing with a contact at the State’s Department of Environmental Protection and, while the application needs to be submitted in late August, the approval by Town Meeting can be anytime before June 30, 2021. A petitioned article seeking to amend the Protective (Zoning) Bylaws and

Don’t Forget - - Complete the 2020 CENSUS today! Go online to www.2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020 to complete the census over the phone.

adopt a Main Street Theater Overlay District and any potential delays to the project to re-develop and rehabilitate the Monomoy Theater property was discussed with the property owner. Greg Clark, Alexandra Properties, said delaying the zoning change would likely push the re-opening of the theater planned for February 2022 back until late winter or spring of 2023. The Board also received a recommendation from the Board of Health and the Park & Recreation Commission to prohibit parking along Sam Ryder Road to control the number of people accessing Schoolhouse Pond due to the small size of the beach and the need for social distancing. Rather than an outright prohibition, the Board voted to require resident/taxpayer stickers for parking along the road, similar to the need for a resident/taxpayer sticker to park along Bridge Street and adjacent to many Town landings.

Board of Health Action The Board of Health met on Monday, July 20, 2020 and voted to extend the hours of their Order requiring the wearing of face masks downtown by one hour until 10 p.m. The request for this extension was made by several downtown merchants in recognition that more people are utilizing Main Street later in the evenings than was initially expected. The Board clarified that those removing masks to eat or drink should be seated and/or socially distanced from non-family members when doing so. The Board also voted to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that parking along Sam Ryder Road should be prohibited to reduce the number of people accessing Schoolhouse Pond. The inability for beachgoers at Schoolhouse Pond to maintain 12 feet between blanketed groups due to high water levels and reduced beach size is a concern to Town employees and to Public Health officials. The Board of Selectmen took up the recommendation at their meeting on July 21, 2020 (see above).

http://www.2020census.gov/

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot! Chatham’s fog and sea breezes have kept us cooler over the last few days than many of our neighbors just a few towns away, but chances are we will have our fair share of heat and humidity this summer. According to the Center for Disease Control as our climate changes, heat waves occur more often and heat-related illnesses are increasing (https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showHeatStressIllnessLanding). Heat-related illnesses occur when your body can’t cool itself down. Under normal circumstances when your body heats up, you sweat, and as the sweat evaporates, your body cools. If that process can’t keep up with rising body temperature, or high humidity levels deter evaporation, heat stress can occur.

The heat index is how hot our bodies feel when air temperature and humidity levels are combined – much like wind chills in the winter. When the combination of heat and humidity push the heat index above 90° extreme caution should be taken to avoid suffering from a heat-related illness such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Learn the signs and symptoms of each and most importantly know when to get help!

Heat cramps are muscle pain or spasms accompanied by heavy sweating during intense exercise. If you experience heat cramps, stop

physical activity, move to a cool place, and drink water or a sports drink. Wait for cramps to go away before resuming any physical activity. Heat exhaustion is characterized by heavy sweating; cold, pale, clammy skin; fast, weak pulse; nausea or vomiting; muscle cramps; tiredness or weakness; dizziness; headache; fainting. Anyone experiencing these should move to a cool place, loosen clothing, use cool cloths or a cool bath to lower body temperature, and sip water. Get medical help right away if vomiting occurs or symptoms last more than an hour. Heat stroke is a serious medical condition characterized by body temperature of 103° or higher; hot, red, dry or damp skin; fast, strong pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; loss of consciousness. Call 911 right away and move the person experiencing symptoms to a cool place, use cool cloths or a cool bath to lower body temperature, and do not give the person anything to drink. The best defense is a great offense - stay cool, stay hydrated, stay aware of those at risk!

https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showHeatStressIllnessLanding