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Shrewsbury Fire Department Offers Hurricane Safety Tips

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Shrewsbury Fire Department
James Vuona, Fire Chief
11 Church Road
Shrewsbury, MA 01545

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 10, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-9003
Email: [email protected]

Shrewsbury Fire Department Offers Hurricane Safety Tips

SHREWSBURY — Chief James Vuona and Emergency Management Director Steve Rocco are recommending a series of precautions this Atlantic Hurricane Season in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season began on Saturday, June 1 and will end on November 30. Historically, hurricanes and tropical storms in August and September have had the greatest impact on New England communities.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a near normal hurricane season this year, which would produce between nine and 15 storms. Between two and four of those storms are predicted to be major hurricanes.

“Creating an emergency plan, assembling an emergency kit and signing up for emergency alerts doesn’t take a lot of time, but it does make a huge difference in the event of a major storm,” Chief Vuona said. “There is a lot to account for in a hurricane, from severe wind to flooding, and having a plan is important.”

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has several safety tips for residents in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm in our area:

  • Stay informed by signing up for emergency alerts.
  • Develop a family emergency plan by establishing meeting locations, creating an emergency contact plan, planning how to evacuate and learning how to shelter in place. Practice your plan with your entire family, and make sure the plan accounts for individuals who have access needs, seniors, children and pets.
  • Acquaint yourself with the emergency plans at places where your family spends considerable time, such as your workplace or your children’s school.
  • Those receiving medical treatment or home health services can work with a medical provider to learn how to maintain care in the event of a hurricane that requires evacuation.
  • Create an emergency kit. Individuals with young children should pack necessities such as diapers, wipes, formula and baby food. Those with pets should pack a collar, leash, harness, crate, food, bowls, current photo, license and medical information.
  • Maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and check their batteries.
  • Contemplate purchasing a generator. If you do, be sure to familiarize yourself with the manufacturer’s instructions to use it safely. NEVER run a generator indoors, in a garage or with the exhaust facing the home or home air intakes.
  • Take photos or videos of your possessions to create a record for insurance purposes.
  • Prepare your home if a storm is coming by securing outdoor objects, clearing rain gutters, covering windows with shutters or plywood (do not use tape), turn off propane tanks that aren’t being used, elevate items in your basement in case of flooding, check your sump pump, unplug sensitive electronic equipment, clear nearby catch basins, park vehicles in areas that are unlikely to flood, and remove any boats from the water.
  • Do not go out during a hurricane or tropical storm, if possible.

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Georgetown Fire Department Offers Hurricane Safety Tips

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Georgetown Fire Department
Fred A. Mitchell Jr., Fire Chief
47 Central Street
Georgetown, MA 01833

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 3, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Georgetown Fire Department Offers Hurricane Safety Tips

GEORGETOWN — As the Atlantic Hurricane Season begins this month, Chief Fred Mitchell and the Georgetown Fire Department are recommending a series of precautions for residents to read and understand in the event of a tropical storm or hurricane.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season began on Saturday, June 1, and will end on November 30. Historically, hurricanes and tropical storms in August and September have had the greatest impact on New England communities. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a near normal hurricane season this year, which would result in between nine and 15 named storms. Between two and four of those storms are predicted to be major hurricanes. 

“There are a lot of factors that go into preparing for a hurricane, and now is a great time for residents to plan and familiarize themselves with safety tips,” Chief Mitchell said. “It’s essential to create a plan that meets the needs of everyone in your family, from grandparents, to toddlers, to your pets and for everyone to practice that plan.”

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has several safety tips for residents in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm in our area:

  • Stay informed by signing up for emergency alerts.
  • Develop a family emergency plan by establishing meeting locations, creating an emergency contact plan, planning how to evacuate and learning how to shelter in place. Practice your plan with your entire family, and make sure the plan accounts for individuals who have access needs, seniors, children and pets.
  • Acquaint yourself with the emergency plans at places where your family spends considerable time, such as your workplace or your children’s school.
  • Those receiving medical treatment or home health services can work with a medical provider to learn how to maintain care in the event of a hurricane that requires evacuation.
  • Create an emergency kit that includes items such as bottled water, a three day supply of non-perishable and ready-to-eat foods, can opener, radio, flashlight or lantern, batteries, cell phone and charger, wrench, pliers, prescription medications, personal hygiene items, change of clothe and shoes, important documents and identification materials, money, first aid kit, emergency whistle, waterproof matches/lighter and area maps. Individuals with young children should pack necessities such as diapers, wipes, formula and baby food. Those with pets should pack a collar, leash, harness, crate, food, bowls, current photo, license and medical information.
  • Follow instructions from public safety officials.
  • Maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and check their batteries.
  • Contemplate purchasing a generator. If you do, be sure to familiarize yourself with the manufacturer’s instructions to use it safely. NEVER run a generator indoors, in a garage or with the exhaust facing the home or home air intakes.
  • Take photos or videos of your possessions to create a record for insurance purposes.
  • Prepare your home if a storm is coming by securing outdoor objects, clearing rain gutters, covering windows with shutters or plywood (do not use tape), turn off propane tanks that aren’t being used, elevate items in your basement in case of flooding, check your sump pump, unplug sensitive electronic equipment, clear nearby catch basins, park vehicles in areas that are unlikely to flood, and remove any boats from the water.
  • Do not go out during a hurricane or tropical storm, if possible.

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Amesbury Assistant Fire Chief Returns from Rescue Mission in Florida and St. Croix

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Amesbury Fire Rescue Department
Kenneth E. Berkenbush, Chief
17 School Street
Amesbury, MA 01913

For Immediate Release

Monday, Oct. 2, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Amesbury Assistant Fire Chief Returns from Rescue Mission in Florida and St. Croix

AMESBURY — Fire Chief Kenneth E. Berkenbush wishes to acknowledge the hard work and sacrifice of Amesbury Assistant Fire Chief David Mather, who recently returned from rescue missions in Florida and St. Croix, as part of the Massachusetts-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT).

It should be known that Assistant Chief Mather and his fellow DMAT members took part in the following actions:

Assistant Chief Mather was activated and departed Boston on Tuesday, Sept. 5 as part of a 36-person team. He arrived and staged in Atlanta before leaving for Orlando, where his team had to seek shelter when Hurricane Irma arrived there on Sunday, Sept. 10. The next day, his team was assigned to a convoy that traveled from Orlando to Miami/Dade County to establish a casualty collection point for sick and injured evacuees fleeing the Florida Keys.

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, the team was reassigned to the City of Marathon, Florida, where they established a field base to assist in recovery efforts. Upon arrival, the team discovered that the local hospital, Fishermen’s Community Hospital, was damaged and unusable, and the nearest working hospitals were 40-50 miles away.

The team arrived at 6 p.m. and set up a field hospital. The hospital was up and running by midnight, six hours later.

From the start of operations at midnight on Wednesday, Sept, 13, until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, the team saw 711 patients, including young children, adults and seniors until the arrival of a mobile hospital at the site on the 26th.

With inclement weather continuing and requests for help coming from many directions, on Sept. 24, Assistant Chief Mather left Marathon with a six-person Health and Medical Task Force (HMTF) of MA-1 personnel and flew from Miami to Saint Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands to assist the U.S. Air Force (USAF) with medical evacuations. (A different crew departed Florida for Puerto Rico on Sept. 30, and several members are expected to remain there until at least Oct. 15.)

At St. Croix, Assistant Chief Mather and his team assisted, stabilized, and ultimately flew out of the Virgin Islands with 43 patients aboard a C-17 military transport, working alongside a USAF Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT).

“Assistant Chief Mather and his team saved numerous lives while in Florida and St. Croix, and they helped ensure that proper, professional medical care was never far away, even in the face of a damaged hospital and a seemingly unending string of terrible weather,” Chief Berkenbush said.

Teams like MA-1 deploy when aid is requested by a state, tribal, or territorial government, and they remain on site until their help is no longer needed. The work is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The team members have regular jobs related to their roles on the team, and are federal employees when deployed to a disaster, event, or official training activity.  Disaster Medical Assistance Teams are rapid-response units comprised of physicians, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, mental health clinicians and support personnel.

“It is an honor to travel with my fellow team members to parts of the United States that have suffered through this horrific hurricane season. For us, this work is just part of our jobs. It is something we hope we never have to do, but if a disaster struck New England we know that our brothers and sisters from all across the nation would come here to help us,” Assistant Chief Mather said. “While in Florida and St. Croix, I was truly blown away by the resiliency and dedication of the first responders already on site. It was a true team effort.”

Assistant Chief Mather has been with the Amesbury Fire Rescue Department since 2000 and has been with the DMAT since 2007. He has been a national registry paramedic since 1992. He oversees emergency medical services and training for the Amesbury Fire Rescue Department.

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Andover Public Schools Raise Nearly $22,000 by Uniting in Support of Hurricane-Ravaged Communities

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ANDOVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Sheldon Berman, Superintendent
36R Bartlet St.
Andover, MA 01810

For Immediate Release

Monday, Sept. 25, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Andover Public Schools Raise Nearly $22,000 by Uniting in Support of Hurricane-Ravaged Communities

ANDOVER — Superintendent Sheldon Berman is pleased to announce that students, families and staff of the Andover Public Schools came together over the past week to support the people whose lives were severely impacted by recent hurricanes that ravaged southeastern Texas and Florida.

On Wednesday, Sept. 20, Andover’s students and faculty came together for Andover Responds: A United Day of Support. Students wore their school colors and brought handwritten notes and photos to help uplift the spirits of people impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

Staff members and families from the throughout community were asked to make whatever monetary contribution they could in order to help those affected by the storms. Donations are continuing to come in to the American Red Cross and its ongoing efforts to help the impacted communities rebuild in the wake of the storms.

To date, the efforts have raised $21,655.

“Our core values call on us to teach our students to feel connected, think globally, believe in their ability to make a difference in the world and take pride in being part of Andover Public Schools,” Superintendent Berman said. “We’ve all been touched by the images of the devastation left by these hurricanes, and it’s essential that we fulfill our obligation to do what we can to provide a helping hand in their time of need.”

Students at West Elementary School wrote letters and drew pictures for families living in shelters, while one students wrapped up a favorite shell of hers, along with a wish for happiness, to send to those in need. Several students at High Plain Elementary brought in donations or had their families donate online.

To mention just a few examples of caring:

  • Some students used their class writing time to pen notes of encouragement to hurricane victims.
  • Teachers led Open Circle meetings to discuss ways to help the struggling families.
  • Students sent cards with their own heartfelt messages, such as, “I am so sorry that you had to endure such a horrible act of nature. No one deserves that.”
  • People dropped spare change into a collection bucket at Open House.
  • Principals used morning announcements to keep the affected families in the forefront of everyone’s thoughts.
  • Students made videos and cards during flex time. Some of the messages were written in Spanish in an effort to bring comfort to Spanish-speaking populations in the disaster areas.
  • Other students drew original pictures and wrote letters to families living in shelters. A few examples appear below.

The students’ drawings and notes, along with a collective check with the community’s donations, will soon be mailed to the communities in need as a way of showing them that they are not alone as they set out on the road to recovery.

“Every school reached out in its own way, demonstrating that caring truly is at the heart of Andover’s culture,” Superintendent Berman said in a letter home to families “Thank you for making a difference—not only here in Andover, but in battered communities hundreds of miles away. The example you set for our students today is shaping the way they will interact with the world tomorrow. We could not be prouder. Thank you.”

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