On Dec. 30, 2013, we posted a blog about the Jan. 2-3, 2014 winter storm and the simultaneous high tides that affected the Massachusetts coast. The storm, named “Hercules,” dropped 8-13 inches of snow in Plymouth County – along with high winds, frigid temperatures, and coastal flooding. What was different about this storm was that at least 2 astronomical high tides occurred at the same time as the storm – a relatively rare event.

CCBW and Jones River Watershed Association sent a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) suggesting that the storm/tidal events could be a valuable opportunity for the NRC to assess the flooding potential at Pilgrim more accurately. Being able to a better understand how storm surges and flooding affects the Pilgrim site is particularly important now, seeing that Entergy is constructing a nuclear waste storage facility about 100 feet from the shore of Cape Cod Bay. We asked the NRC to collect observational notes and photo-documentation of the flooding during the storm, and then provide the information to the public. Read our letter here. The NRC has yet to respond.

We also asked our supporters to take photos (safely first, of course!) of the shoreline in close proximity to Pilgrim. Photos and videos poured in. Here is a selection of photos – many thanks to Phyllis Troia and Christine Bostek for these. Also, thanks to Heather and Jack Lightner for sending us some amazing video footage. Sometime in the near future, we will compare these photos and video to flood maps and topographical contour maps to see if we can determine their accuracy.