Cities across the state of Massachusetts prepared for Tropical Storm Isaias as it traveled up the East coast on Tuesday. 

Chicopee's Emergency Management Director Glenn Joslyn said the city started preparing a few days in advance. 

"I speak with the other emergency managers in the city around us to make sure we are on the same page," he said. "We provide mutual aid so we watch out for each other."

Flooding in places like Willimansett in Chicopee and the Green Island neighborhood in Worcester are not uncommon when there’s a lot of rain, so both cities were making sure sewers and catch basins were cleaned out. 

"If you get that heavy two, three, four inches within a small period of time, it's easy for those to be overwhelmed, so we are going to do whatever we can to make sure it will absorb as much rain as we get," said Ed Augustus Jr., City Manager of Worcester. 

Joslyn said residents can help avoid flooding by making sure the sewers in front of their house are cleaned out. 

"Most people should just make sure that the sewers in front of their houses are clear of the leaves and debris so the streets will drain, otherwise a DPW crew will have to do that or we will," said Joslyn. 

If flooding does occur, city officials urge everyone to follow the "turn around, don’t drown" advice. 

"People make that mistake all the time and they inevitably have their car stall out and depending on how deep the water is, it can be dangerous so don't do that," said Augustus. 

It is also important to remember to keep your phones charged and extra batteries on hand so in case the lights do go out, you're still able to see.

"We are going to have everybody ready to go in case something happens, a power line goes down, electric light, everyone is ready to rock and roll," said Joslyn. 

While the cities prepared, residents said they did too. Eric Morin has lived in Chicopee his whole life and knows New England weather can be unpredictable. 

"Everything has changed with the weather, the storms we had in 2011, the ice storm, and the hurricane, I think after that is when we started getting more different types of weather around here," said Morin.

Morin also said in case of a tornado or more severe weather, it’s important to take the warnings seriously and act quick. 

"Take my cats and get in the basement," said Morin.

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