Report of the Southwick Emergency Management Agency 2008
The 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 and 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.
Emergency Management Members:
Director: Charles H. Dunlap
Assistant Director: Keith Stromgren
Assistant Director: Charles Housner
Communications Officer: Eric Carroll
Joan Boissonnault
Pauline Dunlap
Mary Grasso
David Houle
Peter F. Jakobowski, Sr.
Peter F. Jakobowski, Jr.
Robert Miller
Howard Pohlman
Applicant awaiting appointment: John Long
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 under All Hazards were encountered during the past year from January 1st to December 31st:.This year of 2008 was a record setting year for precipitation. Of significant impact was the undermining of South Longyard Road at the Great Brook culvert. Significant events are:
Electric Power Failures | 44 |
Water Breaks | 2 |
Closures of Highway/Roads | |
MA Route 57 | 4 |
US Route 202 | 6 |
MA Route 168 | 1 |
Other Secondary Roads | 17 |
Boat Accident | 1 |
Hazardous Material Accidents | 2 |
Fires: Brush/Forest Fires/Structures | 9 |
Red Flag Fire Warnings (high temp.dry with windy conditions) | 4 |
Excessive Heat Warning | 1 |
Ice Storm Warning | 2 |
NWS Freeze Warning Date | 20 Oct. |
Severe Winter Storm Warning | 8 |
Heavy Snow Warning | 2 |
High Wind Warning | 3 |
Tornado Watch | 2 |
Flood Warnings | 3 |
Flash Flood Warning | 6 |
Severe Thunder Storm Warnings | 21 |
Tropical Storm Warning | 1 |
Terrorism Warnings | 3 |
Federal Fugitive from Justice Capture | 1 |
FDA Food Warning | 1 |
Mass. Ice Storm Emer. Declaration | 1 |
Presidential Flood Declaration | 1 |
Emer. Oper. Center Activations | 4 |
Shelter Opening | 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 Safety- Damage Assessment and Power Restoration coordination program, 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 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 18th with U.S. and Canadian participants. Members assisted at the Firemen’s Fireworks display and with the National MotoCross, Regional School District Halloween nights’ security detail, National Weather Service StormReady Town of Southwick three year recertification, and a statewide simulated Hurricane Exercise 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 which is also available for public safety response and public event coordination use.
Ten 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. The SEMA Director assisted MEMA during the Eastern States Exposition with the State emergency information display.
In closing, the hard work and dedication of our appointed volunteer members of the Southwick Emergency Management Team 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 are on our website.
Our goal is to have each resident able to prepare and be able to cope with an all hazard emergency for at least 72 hours for all immediate family basic needs of: water, food, medical needs, before help may arrive. People with special needs are of concern during emergencies.
Further information on volunteering or all hazard emergency preparedness may be obtained from any Emergency Management member or by calling the Director at 569-0308.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles H. Dunlap, SEMA Director