Falmouth Emergency Preparedness

08/05/2026

Take steps to protect yourself from the sun during the summertime and all the time!

Though it is already August, we still have a lot of beautiful, sunny, summer days ahead of us. Spending time at the beach, hanging out with friends at a backyard barbecue, or going for a bike ride means extended exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.

UV rays are invisible radiation from the sun that can damage your skin and eyes. Too much UV exposure can cause painful sunburns, premature skin aging, and eye damage; it also increases your risk of skin cancer.

A few simple actions can help protect you and your family:

- Use sunscreen. Broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher and apply it before going outside. Reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating.

- Cover up. Wear lightweight protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays.

- Stay in the shade. UV rays are strongest around 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so take breaks from the sun when you can.

- Watch for reflected sunlight. Water, sand, pavement, and snow can reflect UV rays and increase your exposure, even if you're in the shade.

- Skip the tanning bed. Indoor tanning exposes your skin to harmful UV radiation and increases your risk of skin cancer.

- Check your skin. Look for new or changing spots and talk with your healthcare provider about regular skin exams.

- Check the UV Index. When the UV Index is 3 or higher, take extra precautions to protect your skin and eyes.

https://uvi.today/

- Protect children. Kids need extra protection from the sun. Make sure they're wearing hats, protective clothing, and sunscreen on exposed skin. Keep babies under 6 months out of direct sunlight whenever possible.

You can still enjoy the sunshine, just protect yourself while you're outside!

08/04/2026

Back into the furnace... It appears we have more extreme heat headed our way with the highest temperatures expected Thursday and Friday of this week. It looks like we may be in a little corner that has lower temperatures, but please follow heat-safety guidelines; scroll through our feed for suggestions. If you do not have AC, plan activities in public spaces with AC when you can.

07/28/2026

Flooding is the most common environmental hazard in Massachusetts. However, there are several ways to prepare that don’t require expensive renovations, and some are simple maintenance:

- Clean leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts.

- Make sure water flows away from your home's foundation.

- Keep storm drains near your property free of debris.

- Store valuables and important documents above ground level.

- Trim vegetation that blocks drainage.

A bit more labor intensive, but if your home previously flooded, consider elevating utilities like your furnace, water heater, or electrical equipment.

For more flood risk reduction ideas check out the Massachusetts Homeowner's Handbook to Prepare for Coastal Hazards. This free guide is filled with practical actions homeowners can take to be better prepared:

https://seagrant.whoi.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MA-Homeowners-Handbook-2020-1.pdf

07/22/2026

As a coastal community, Falmouth faces several types of flooding and understanding their risks is one of the best ways to help protect your home, family, and community.

Some of the most common types of flooding in Falmouth include:

- Coastal flooding and storm surges during hurricanes, tropical storms, and nor'easters.

- Heavy rainfall flooding when intense rain overwhelms drainage systems, causing roads, yards, and sometimes basements to flood.

- High-tide ("sunny day") flooding in low-lying coastal areas, even when the weather is clear.

- Wide-scale sea-level rises that allow high-tide to reach previously dry areas.

While some of these are beyond our immediate control, for some there are simple, practical steps to reduce risk. A great place to start is by learning your property's flood risk. Massachusetts offers a free Flood Zone Mapping Tool that allows you to enter your address and see whether your property is located within a FEMA flood zone.

Explore the Flood Zone Mapping Tool:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/ma-epht-flood-zone-mapping-tool
(scroll down to the interactive map and enter your address in the search bar)

Knowing your flood risk can help you make informed decisions about protecting your home, preparing for storms, and understanding whether flood insurance may be appropriate for your property.

Remember, flooding isn't limited to FEMA flood zones. Heavy rainfall, poor drainage, and coastal flooding can affect neighborhoods throughout Falmouth, even if they aren't mapped as high-risk areas.

Over the next several days, we'll be sharing flood preparedness tips, resources, and actions you can take to help protect your home and family. The more prepared we are, the more resilient our community will be!

07/17/2026

While the air has cleared a bit, we are once again looking at potentially impactful rain. Please keep a weather eye out tomorrow, stay dry, and do not drive through water covered roadways.

If you observe downed wires, damaged transformers, smoking electrical equipment, or other emergency situations, please call 911.

If you have a power outage, please contact the utility:
https://www.eversource.com/cg/customer/reportoutage

07/14/2026

The Falmouth Massachusetts Fire Rescue Department is hiring!

If you are looking for a rewarding career serving the community, consider joining the team to make a difference every day. In Falmouth, Emergency Preparedness is part of the Fire Rescue Department, and personnel answer calls for service 24/7 making the community safer for all residents and visitors.

Falmouth Fire Rescue is seeking dedicated, motivated Paramedics and EMTs to join and start a new fire service career! Applicants must possess Massachusetts certification as an EMT-P or EMT-B or have the ability to obtain Massachusetts certification through reciprocity.

https://www.mass.gov/guides/apply-for-an-initial-emt-advanced-emt-or-paramedic-certification #-out-of-state-ems-certification-

If you have questions reach out to:
[email protected]

Become part of Cape Cod’s largest and busiest Fire Rescue Department!

https://www.firefighterapp.com/Town-of-Falmouth-Rescue-MA-Firefighter-Jobs/6587/

07/13/2026

We’re expecting a few days of really hot weather this week, so let’s revisit what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones!

Whether you're a year-round resident or visiting the Cape, it’s easy to protect yourself and those around you.

Just a reminder of who is most at risk:
- Older adults
- Young children
- Pregnant people
- People with chronic medical conditions or disabilities
- Outdoor workers and anyone participating in strenuous outdoor
activities
- Pets

Stay safe during the heat by:
- Drinking plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty.
- Spending time in air-conditioned buildings whenever possible.
If your home isn't air-conditioned, consider visiting your local
library or another public building with air conditioning.
- Wearing sunscreen and seeking shade when you are outdoors.
The sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Planning outdoor work, exercise, and yard work for the early
morning or evening when temperatures are cooler.
- Checking on neighbors, friends, and family members, especially
older adults and anyone living alone.
- Bringing pets inside. If they’re outside, make sure they have fresh
water, shade, and a cool place to rest.
- Never leave a child, pet, older adult, or anyone with limited
mobility in a parked vehicle, even if it’s only for a few minutes.
The inside of a parked car gets really hot. Even on mild, cooler
days, the temperature in a parked car can rise to deadly levels in
a few minutes.

A special note about protecting your pets. If you want to bring your dog with you to the beach, an outdoor event like an arts and crafts festival, or for a stroll around the neighborhood, reach down and touch the road, parking lot, sidewalk, or sand with your hand. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws!

Hot pavement, sand, metal surfaces, and even wood surfaces can burn their paws, especially if they have to stand on these hot surfaces for a period of time waiting for you while you browse an artist’s booth or talk with a neighbor. Protect your pet from the heat by leaving your dog at home or taking them out early in the morning or after sunset.

Remember, extreme heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the United States!

07/06/2026

Our region will continue seeing heavy rainfall through tomorrow.
We do not have significant riverine areas but do have some spots where water can reach roadways.

Heavy rain can quickly create dangerous conditions so stay alert and remember:
- Turn Around, Don't Drown. Never drive or walk through flooded roads. Just a few inches of moving water can sweep away a vehicle or knock a person off their feet.
- Just because a flooded road looks ok, does not mean there actually is a road; you might just be looking at the surface of the water
- Stay away from streams, drainage ditches, and other fast-moving water
- It is easy to be swept off your feet
- Monitor local weather forecasts and emergency alerts
- Charge your phones and keep flashlights ready in case of power outages
- If flooding threatens your area, move to higher ground immediately
- Keep children and pets away from floodwaters, which may contain hidden hazards and contaminants

Your safety is more important than reaching your destination. If you encounter flooded roads, find an alternate route and never attempt to cross.

https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI6mIlHKrVY

07/06/2026

Please see the posted info from Falmouth Police and reach out to them with any pertinent information.

Update July 7th, 2026 @ 2:10pm

The Falmouth Police Department has received information that Fuentes has been located off-Cape and is safe.

We extend our gratitude to the following departments for their assistance with the search: Falmouth Fire/Rescue, Falmouth Department of Marine and Environment, Barnstable County Sheriff's Office, Massachusetts State Police, Worcester Police Department (Official), Massachusetts Environmental Police, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England, and the Falmouth Beaches.

______________________________________________________________________
The Falmouth Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Jose Ricardo Campos Fuentes, who was reported missing this morning.

Jose was last seen on Saturday evening at Wood Neck Beach wearing a black shirt and black pants.

If you have seen Jose or have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact the Falmouth Police Department immediately.

07/05/2026

The temperatures are going down...and we are getting some rain during our continuing drought...but the Commonwealth may get a lot of rain in a short period. Falmouth should miss the worst part but please stay safe and dry.