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MACC

WRHSAC has established the Multi-Agency Coordination Center project to explore and establish a regional approach to managing large emergencies and disasters.

Over the last several years, significant emergencies affecting Western Massachusetts communities have demonstrated the need for increased coordination, the sharing of scarce resources, and a regional approach to emergency management.  Events such as Tropical Storm Irene and the 2011 October Snowstorm brought witness to the number of challenges which can arise when large-scale disasters overwhelm the ability to rapidly establish common operating picture by fully consuming local resources and staff in order to address immediate response needs.  As a result of these types of events, a variety of After-Action Reports produced post disaster identified the need to establish and improve upon regional planning and response capabilities within the region.

WRHSAC is taking a phased approach to this project. Phase I was completed in October 2013. The following documents/tools were developed in Phase I and are available for your review or use.

Phase II has recently been completed (March 2015). The documents created in Phase I were used as starting points to pilot the establishment of a Regional Multi-Agency Coordination Center in Berkshire County. A regional stakeholder group was formed to identify and review needs specific to Berkshire County. WRHSAC and the project consultant, with input from the stakeholder group, revised and enhanced the Concept of Operations (ConOps) developed in Phase I. The new ConOps details the following:

  • MACC Services and Support
  • MACC Operational Scalability
  • MACC Activation
  • MACC Staffing and Organizational Structure
  • Local, Regional and State Operation Center Relationship and Coordination and
  • MACC De-Activation

Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) were also developed and provide position specific guidance to MACC operations. The following SOGs were developed:

The next phase of the project will work to establish a MACC in Franklin County. A similar approach of establishing a stakeholder group will be followed. Phase III is expected to begin in early summer 2015. If you are in Franklin County and are interested in participating please contact Raine Brown, Homeland Security Program Manager.