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Massachusetts hurricane guide

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) coordinates state, federal, local, and private help in disasters from its headquarters in Framingham and regional offices. Most Massachusetts counties have no county government, and each city and town runs its own emergency management. MEMA says storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property in a hurricane, and its Know Your Zone map shows whether your home or work is in a hurricane evacuation zone. Public safety officials order evacuations, so follow your city or town.

Checked on October 5, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). In a life threatening emergency, call 911.

Counties

Choose your county. Each county page has its emergency numbers, evacuation zones, and shelters, and lists its cities and towns.

More places are on the way. Until yours is listed, see the official sources page or call 211.

Emergency and information numbers

Service Number Notes
Emergency 911 Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger.
MEMA headquarters (business calls) 508-820-2001 Receptionist, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Not for emergencies.
MEMA 24-hour Communications Center 508-820-2000 For emergency support or coordination. MEMA tells residents to contact their local emergency management director or public safety officials for shelter and resource information.
MEMA Region 1 (Northeast) office, Tewksbury 978-328-1500 Regional office line. Not for emergencies.
MEMA Region 2 (Southeast) office 774-613-5400 Regional office line. Not for emergencies.
MEMA Regions 3 and 4 (West and Central) office 413-750-1400 Regional office line. Not for emergencies.
Mass 211 information line 211 The Commonwealth's main telephone information line. Mass 2-1-1 says to call it for the location of open shelters, travel restrictions during a declared emergency, and help after a disaster.
Road and traffic conditions (Mass511) 511 Evacuation routes and road closures.

Official alerts and information

  • Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): No sign up needed. Alerts go to all WEA-enabled phones in the affected area. Most come from the National Weather Service and cover hurricanes, flash floods, and tornadoes. Website.
  • Your local alert system: MEMA urges residents to ask their local Emergency Management Director whether their community uses its own alert system, such as Reverse 911 or Code Red, and how to enroll. MEMA also posts on its social media accounts as a secondary method of alerting. Website.
  • Hurricane Evacuation Zones and Know Your Zone: MEMA's official page with the interactive map. Also reachable at mass.gov/knowyourzone. Website.

Statewide resources

  • Know Your Zone interactive hurricane evacuation zone map: Look up whether your home or business is in a hurricane evacuation zone. Maps are also available as PDFs by community. Website.
  • Hurricane Safety Tips (MEMA): Before, during, and after a hurricane or tropical storm. Website.
  • Safety Tips for Evacuations (MEMA): What to bring, how to plan, and what to do if asked to evacuate. Website.
  • Hurricane Resources for Emergency Managers (MEMA): Explains the Cape Cod Emergency Traffic Plan, hurricane inundation maps, and the state mass care and shelter plan. Website.
  • National Weather Service Boston/Norton: Forecasts, watches, and warnings for eastern and central Massachusetts. Website.
  • National Hurricane Center: Official hurricane forecasts, watches, and warnings. Website.
  • Mass511: Statewide road and traffic information. Website.

Evacuation zones

Massachusetts coastal communities, and communities along rivers and waterways connected to the ocean, have hurricane evacuation zones. Zones A and B may flood first from storm surge in a tropical storm or hurricane, and Zone A floods before Zone B. Boston and Cambridge also have a Zone C. MEMA says the zones do not match hurricane categories, because storm surge is not measured by the Saffir-Simpson scale. If officials call for your zone to evacuate, follow their directions and move to a safe area.

Look up your evacuation zone

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

Shelters open only when officials announce them, and each city, town, or region decides. MEMA tells residents to contact their local Emergency Management Director or public safety officials for shelter information, and to call 2-1-1 for shelter locations. If you go to a shelter, tell staff about any special needs. Take your pets if you can. Do not go to a site until it is announced as open.

Help to evacuate

  • Find your local Emergency Management Director: MEMA's page lists a tool to find your local Emergency Management Director. Ask about local alerts, shelters, and help if you cannot evacuate on your own. Website.

Power, water and debris

  • Eversource: Electric utility in much of eastern and central Massachusetts. Report outages on its website. Assume every downed line is live and stay away. Website.
  • National Grid: Electric and gas utility in parts of Massachusetts. Report outages on its website. Website.
  • Unitil: Electric and gas utility in parts of Massachusetts. Its outages page lets you report a power outage and lists a customer service number. Website.

Sources

Checked on October 5, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.