Report of the Southwick Emergency Management Agency
Southwick Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has the responsibility for All Hazards Coordination of all local town governmental departments and local volunteer service agencies in times of emergency crisis or disaster. S.E.M.A. is the local government liaison to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and to the Federal Emergency Management Agency in emergency disaster mitigation, preparation, response and recovery. This department oversees that our local government is able to function during times of fragmentation and also during times of “Declaration of Emergency”. This is accomplished by maintaining and annually updating the Southwick Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, coordinating an all-town department Continuity of Government / Continuity of Operations Planning, and providing an Emergency Operations Center to be used by our elected officials and critical key department chiefs and directors during times of emergency and disaster.
SEMA Members:
Director: Charles H. Dunlap
Assistant Director: Keith Stromgren
Assistant Director: Charles Housner
Communications Officer: Eric Carroll
Joan Boissonnault
John Cashman
Aaron DeWinkeleer
Pauline Dunlap
Mary Grasso
David Houle
Peter F. Jakobowski, Jr.
Robert Miller
Howard Pohlman
Jeff Stenberg
Changes of membership during the past year were the departure of both Peter F. Jakobowski Sr. and John Long. A sincere thanks for the volunteer time and services given to our Town by both members.
Under the all-hazards concept during times of warnings and emergency crisis situations, members are on standby or activated for response to the Emergency Operations Center or Mobile Emergency Communications Command Vehicle. The following serious events and warnings were encountered during the past year from January 1st to December 31st:
Electric Power Failures | 21 |
Water Breaks | 2 |
Closures of Highway/Roads | |
MA Route 57 | 3 |
US Route 202 | 3 |
MA Route 168 | 1 |
Other secondary | 27 |
Structure Fires, Large Illegal Burns | 3 |
Red Flag Fire Warnings (High Temperature Dry Windy Conditions) | 3 |
NWS Freeze Warning 28 April and 10 Oct. | |
Solar Flare Warning 4 August | 1 |
Winter Storm Warning | 5 |
Blizzard Warning | 1 |
High Wind Warning | 3 |
Tornado Watch | 2 |
Tornado Warning | 1 |
Flood Warning | 4 |
Severe Thunder Storm Warnings | 8 |
Snow Mobile/ATV Accident | 2 |
Terrorism Warnings Federal | 4 |
Federal-National Warnings for: food salmonella, contaminated sausage, cyber, tax scams, web scams, IPOD personal information theft, suspicious letters/ packages, travel-public places, and hotels. Massachusetts Governor Emergency
Declaration for: Flood, Wind, Hurricane, Blizzard | 4 |
Emergency Operations Center activations | 7 |
Local Declaration of Emergency | 1 |
Emergency Management Members receive training in Weapons of Mass Destruction Response, NWS SKYWARN Severe Weather Awareness, Western Massachusetts Electric Company-Northeast Utilities and ISO New England Power line Safety-Damage Assessment and Power Restoration coordination program, emergency communications (Federal, State and Local) interoperability training, Incident Command System for 100/200/300/400 levels, CPR, First Aid and BioTerrorism Weapons of Mass Destruction. Members attended a Pipeline Energy Safety conference, Advanced Emergency Communications workshop, DOT Nuclear Transportation Accident Response, and Hazardous Material Transportation Accident orientation.
Five members assisted with the Vermont Yankee Nuclear training drills and exercise at the Greenfield Community College evacuation reception area. Members assisted in Homeland Security grant applications, Department of Public Health pandemic planning, Boy and Girl Scout Emergency Preparedness merit badge training, hosting a multi-community twenty-four hour disaster communications exercise placing 16th with U.S. and Canadian participants. Members assisted at the Powder Mill Middle School Open House, with the National Moto-Cross, Regional School District Halloween nights’ security detail, National Weather Service Town of Southwick StormReady continuing recertification, and a statewide simulated Hurricane Exercise, earth quake, and Electric Power Grid loss exercise.
A military Deuce and Half cargo truck and a converted military trailer has been set- up for deployment for emergency generator power and lighting at emergency incidents, public events and shelter needs. The Emergency Management Agency also has a Mobile EOC Communications Command vehicle that is also available for public safety and event use.
Eight Emergency Operations Center Orientation tours were given to Emergency Management Directors and visiting State, Local and private individuals. The Comprehensive Emergency Operations Management Plan has been revised and Continuity of Operations Planning - Continuity of Government departmental plans developed, and assistance given to town departments for a federally mandated training program of Incident Command System and National Incident Management. A new MEMA State radio system is now operational to improve public safety communications interoperability. FEMA toured the Town Library and EOC for Federal disaster emergency Field Office use contingency planning. SEMA assisted Westfield Emergency Management with supplying 2,000 sand bags for the December flooding of the Shaker, Canal and Laro Roads flooding.
Our goal is to have each resident and business able to prepare and be able to cope with all hazard emergencies. Family basic needs for a minimum of 72 hours basic needs of: water, food, medical, heat and communications should be part of personal emergency planning. People with special needs are of concern during emergencies. There are two emergency shelters at the Town Offices Building and the Southwick-Tolland Regional High School that would be available and managed by the American Red Cross if required.
In closing, the hard work, hours and dedication of the appointed volunteer members of Southwick Emergency Management continue to maintain high standards among the other three hundred and fifty one Massachusetts Emergency Management Communities. Information and more in-depth activity, photos and details of SEMA is on our website. Further information on volunteering or hazard emergency preparedness may be obtained from any Emergency Management member or by calling the Director at 569-0308.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles H. Dunlap, Director