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UMass Amherest Conference Center

9:00am-3:00pm

The Whole Community Preparedness Summit is geared toward Western Massachusetts Emergency Management Directors/Planners and Incident Managers/Commanders from any first responder discipline. At this summit you will gain an understanding of the following:

  • Why meeting the needs of the whole community is not only a best practice, but also required by law. A review of both Massachusetts and Federal statutory requirements will be provided.
  • How to plan for the whole community: A local Emergency Management Director (EMD) will discuss how the Community Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) Individuals Requiring Additional Assistance (IRAA) Annex can help.
  • How to write or implement MOUs with agencies/organizations providing shelter management services and services to IRAA populations and why MOUs are important.
  • How identify an individual within the community that could serve as IRAA spokesperson within the incident command structure.
  • What training opportunities and other resources are available from the State, local private sector entities, as well as educational institutions within the region.

By the time you leave this event your CEMP Annex should be almost completed! More information and registration is available here.

By mpraus | Posted in Events, From WRHSAC, News And Events | Comments Off on Whole Community Preparedness Summit

Transit Center in Greenfield, MA

4 to 8 pm

Let’s Make a Plan (LMaP) is a FREE community education program designed to teach individuals how to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies

Participants receive all the materials necessary to give LMaP workshops. The training class will be approximately 4 hours long and dinner is provided. More information is available here.

Register by April 10, 2013:

(413)774-3167 or admin@frcog.org

 

By mpraus | Posted in Events, News, News And Events | Comments Off on Let’s Make a Plan

UMass Amherst

3 pm to 9 pm

In this sheltering exercise, a scenario will be employed in which a widespread power outage in Hampshire County requires a large scale shelter to be opened on the UMass Campus. Hampshire County MRC volunteers will be the primary staff of the shelter.

The purpose of this exercise is to evaluate volunteer activation and communications, volunteer job action sheets and just in time training. There will be a focus on resource access and utilization. The set up, functionality, and break down of assets housed at UMass will be tested. Medical control and command and coordination with University Health Services and the Hampshire County MRC volunteers will be trialed during this exercise. Participants will include Hampshire Medical Reserve Corps including Hampshire Emergency Animal Response Team, American Red Cross, Amherst Public Health, Amherst Animal Control, Hadley and Amherst Fire.

For more information or to register, please contact Jackie Duda, Easthampton Health Department at (413) 529-1443

By mpraus | Posted in Events, From WRHSAC, News And Events | Comments Off on Hampshire MRC Shelter Operations Exercise

Franklin County

12 PM

 On Saturday, November 3, 2012 at noon, state and local public safety agencies will conduct an audible sounding of the 37 sirens within the Vermont Yankee 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) which includes the Massachusetts communities of Bernardston, Colrain, Gill, Greenfield, Leyden, Northfield and Warwick.

The three-minute siren testing is conducted by the Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts state public safety agencies in compliance with the regulations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure the effectiveness of the public notification system.

Residents with questions on the annual testing can contact their town’s emergency management director or Mark Gilmore at Vermont Yankee at (802) 258-4168

The official MEMA press release is here.

By mpraus | Posted in News | Comments Off on Vermont Yankee to Test Sirens

Hotel Northampton

9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

The Western Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council invites you to attend Individuals Requiring Additional Assistance (IRAA) Standard Operating Guidance (SOG) Workshop and Tabletop Exercise. Target audience for this facilitated, scenario-based training is county emergency responders. Objectives of the Workshop and Exercise include:

  1. Providing awareness about the IRAA SOG and Annex and how it applies to all emergencies and establishes common operating procedures.
  2. Educating responders on how the IRAA SOG and Annex will improve response capabilities and communication.
  3. Examining interactions between responders, IRAA partners that provide IRAA services, and IRAA recipients of services.

 The November 16th Hampshire County training will be held at the Hotel Northampton, Hampshire Room located at 36 King Street in Northampton. Registration and breakfast are from 8:30 to 9:00 A.M. A boxed lunch is also included.

Please register by November 1, 2012:

  • Franklin County: Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm Register here.
  • Berkshire County: Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm Register here.
  • Hampden County: Thursday, November 15, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm Register here.
  • Hampshire County: Friday, November 16, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm  Register here.

Additional info is available at http://preparednessforall.wordpress.com/upcoming-meetings/ or contact Susan Brown at (413) 774-3167 x138 or sbrown@frcog.org.

By mpraus | Posted in Events, From WRHSAC | Comments Off on Individuals Requiring Additional Assistance – Workshop and Tabletop Exercise

Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Springfield

9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

The Western Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council invites you to attend Individuals Requiring Additional Assistance (IRAA) Standard Operating Guidance (SOG) Workshop and Tabletop Exercise. Target audience for this facilitated, scenario-based training is county emergency responders. Objectives of the Workshop and Exercise include:

  1. Providing awareness about the IRAA SOG and Annex and how it applies to all emergencies and establishes common operating procedures.
  2. Educating responders on how the IRAA SOG and Annex will improve response capabilities and communication.
  3. Examining interactions between responders, IRAA partners that provide IRAA services, and IRAA recipients of services.

 The November 15th Hampden County training will be held at Pioneer Valley Planning Commission at 60 Congress Street, Floor 1, in Springfield.   Registration and breakfast are from 8:30 to 9:00 A.M. A boxed lunch is also included.

Please register by November 1, 2012:

  • Franklin County: Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm Register here.
  • Berkshire County: Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm Register here.
  • Hampden County: Thursday, November 15, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm Register here.
  • Hampshire County: Friday, November 16, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm  Register here.

Additional info is available at http://preparednessforall.wordpress.com/upcoming-meetings/ or contact Susan Brown at (413) 774-3167 x138 or sbrown@frcog.org.

By mpraus | Posted in Events, From WRHSAC | Comments Off on Individuals Requiring Additional Assistance – Workshop and Tabletop Exercise

John W. Olver Transit Center, Greenfield, MA

9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

The Western Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council invites you to attend Individuals Requiring Additional Assistance (IRAA) Standard Operating Guidance (SOG) Workshop and Tabletop Exercise. Target audience for this facilitated, scenario-based training is county emergency responders. Objectives of the Workshop and Exercise include:

  1. Providing awareness about the IRAA SOG and Annex and how it applies to all emergencies and establishes common operating procedures.
  2. Educating responders on how the IRAA SOG and Annex will improve response capabilities and communication.
  3. Examining interactions between responders, IRAA partners that provide IRAA services, and IRAA recipients of services.

 The November 13th Franklin County training will be held at the John W. Olver Transit Center Community Room at 12 Olive Street in Greenfield.   Registration and breakfast are from 8:30 to 9:00 A.M. A boxed lunch is also included.

Please register by November 1, 2012:

  • Franklin County: Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm Register here.
  • Berkshire County: Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm Register here.
  • Hampden County: Thursday, November 15, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm Register here.
  • Hampshire County: Friday, November 16, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm  Register here.

Additional info is available at http://preparednessforall.wordpress.com/upcoming-meetings/ or contact Susan Brown at (413) 774-3167 x138 or sbrown@frcog.org.

By mpraus | Posted in Events, From WRHSAC | Comments Off on Individuals Requiring Additional Assistance – Workshop and Tabletop Exercise

Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, Pittsfield

9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

The Western Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council invites you to attend Individuals Requiring Additional Assistance (IRAA) Standard Operating Guidance (SOG) Workshop and Tabletop Exercise. Target audience for this facilitated, scenario-based training is county emergency responders. Objectives of the Workshop and Exercise include:

  1. Providing awareness about the IRAA SOG and Annex and how it applies to all emergencies and establishes common operating procedures.
  2. Educating responders on how the IRAA SOG and Annex will improve response capabilities and communication.
  3. Examining interactions between responders, IRAA partners that provide IRAA services, and IRAA recipients of services.

 The November 14th Berkshire County training will be held at Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, 330 North Street in Pittsfield.   Registration and breakfast are from 8:30 to 9:00 A.M. A boxed lunch is also included.

Please register by November 1, 2012:

  • Franklin County: Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm Register here.
  • Berkshire County: Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm Register here.
  • Hampden County: Thursday, November 15, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm Register here.
  • Hampshire County: Friday, November 16, 2012, 9:00am to 3:00pm  Register here.

Additional info is available at http://preparednessforall.wordpress.com/upcoming-meetings/ or contact Susan Brown at (413) 774-3167 x138 or sbrown@frcog.org.

By mpraus | Posted in Events, From WRHSAC | Comments Off on Individuals Requiring Additional Assistance – Workshop and Tabletop Exercise

St. Ann Church Family Center in Lenox

10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

 

Emergency responders, EMDs, faith-based, community and municipal leaders and volunteers are cordially invited to an upcoming workshop on Psychological First Aid. This free event is organized by the Faith Community Partnering for Emergency Preparedness Project and sponsored by the Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council .  It will take place on Tuesday, October 23 from 10:00am to 3:00pm (including lunch) at St. Ann Church Family Center in Lenox.  Doors open at 9:45am–pre-registration is required. 

Chris Farrand, Director of Emergency Disaster Services for the Salvation Army of Massachusetts will be the presenter.  Chief Dan Clifford and Major Tom Grady will be speaking. Please see this flyer for more information about the program. 

This experiential workshop will provide tested tools for faith leaders and volunteers, as well as emergency responders and community volunteers, seeking to help those emotionally impacted by disasters.  Our recent experiences of  tornadoes, flooding and prolonged power outages in western Massachusetts showed the importance of gaining  proactive skills.  We hope that you can take part.  

 

By mpraus | Posted in Events, News And Events | Comments Off on Psychological First Aid – Training for Whole Community Disaster Resilience

Lenox Community Center

10am- 5pm (9:30 Registration)

The MRC/DART Train-a-Thon is a comprehensive full day of training designed to assist members and new volunteers in satisfying basic training requirements quickly and conveniently. The training is co-sponsored by the Community Health Workers Alliance of Berkshire County and includes:

  • Intro to Disaster Response (MRC and DART 101)
  • Psychological First Aid (PFA)
  • ICS 100 and NIMS 700

The FREE training will include a Q & A session, opportunities for networking, lunch, certificates, and giveaways. It is open to all but requires pre-registration. Complete course descriptions and training information is available here.

For more information or to REGISTER contact CMcKeown@wmmrc.org (413) 539-4115 or visit www.WMMRC.org.

 

By mpraus | Posted in Events, From WRHSAC, News And Events | Comments Off on MRC/DART Train-a-Thon
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