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Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
Welcome from Director Don Boyce
Welcome to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) website.
MEMA Spotlights Anniversary of Worcester Tornado
Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms, with whirling winds that can reach 300 mph. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Massachusetts Enters the 2009 Hurricane Season
To help increase public awareness of the effects hurricanes can have on the Commonwealth and the preparedness steps we all must take, over the next fourteen weeks the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) will be disseminating important information to ensure the continued safety of our citizens and property. Tips to Protect Property from Hurricanes
"There are several steps which we can all take to help make our homes and property more storm resistant," said MEMA Director Don Boyce. "Early planning and preparation can be the key to your safety." Family Hurricane Preparedness Tips
"Every home and business should have a basic emergency supply kit that could be used for any emergency, regardless of the time of year," states MEMA Director Don Boyce. "Everyone should keep certain items around the house and workplace in the event you are isolated for three to five days without power" New England Hurricanes of Note
Although the Hurricane Season in New England is defined as June 1st through November 30th, the vast majority of the 40 tropical systems that have impacted our region over the past century have struck during the months of August and September. Because Massachusetts is such a relatively small state, it is important to realize that these are not just 'coastal events', but, in fact, everyone in the Commonwealth... Hurricane Names 2009
The word "Hurricane" is derived from the Carib term for "God of Evil". In the West Indies hurricanes were originally named after the Saint upon whose holyday the storm occurred. Boston is Designated as StormReady
The City of Boston has received the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service StormReady® recognition, indicating New England's largest city is better prepared for the Nor'easters and other severe storms that periodically batter the region. MEMA Supports DPH H1N1 Influenza Efforts
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is supporting the efforts of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), which has been designated as the lead agency for the Commonwealth's response to the H1N1 Influenza situation. DPH is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local partners to increase surveillance activities for possible H1N1 Influenza cases in Massachusetts.
For the latest information in Massachusetts, please visit the DPH blog at www.mass.gov/blog/publichealth and the DPH H1N1 Influenza page. For more information on H1N1 Influenza from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, please visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
Specific questions can be answered by calling 2-1-1 or visiting the Mass211 website at Mass 2-1-1, as Commonwealth's primary telephone information call center during times of emergency, offers citizens the opportunity for 24/7 access to vital H1Ni Influenza information.
Para más información en español sobre la gripe porcina, diríjase a www.cdc.gov/swineflu/epanol.Updating COOP Plans
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) encourages communities to review, update or establish Continuity of Operations Plans. The link for the Local COOP Plan template is available in the 'Publications & Reports' section or here.
The Threat of Wildfires
The combination of high temperatures, low humidity, and warm breezes create a recipe for the increased risk of Brush and Forest Fires. Wildfires often begin unnoticed, but spread quickly, igniting brush, trees and homes. Springtime Can Be Flood-Time
"Flooding continues to be the most common and costly type of natural threat which the Commonwealth faces annually," stated MEMA Director Don Boyce. "In anticipation of rising springtime temperatures and seasonal rainfall, which will have an impact on the melting of the extensive snowpack to our North, MEMA recommends that citizens begin to take proper precautions for potential flooding." Call 2-1-1 for Non-Emergency Assistance
MEMA and the Council of Massachusetts United Ways (COMUW) continue to promote Mass 2-1-1 as the Commonwealth's primary telephone information call center during times of emergency. The easy-to-remember 2-1-1 telephone number will be utilized as a 24/7 resource for human service and Public Safety/disaster response and planning agencies. It was designed, in part, to reduce the number of non-emergency calls made to 9-1-1. What is a Gubernatorial State of Emergency?
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is authorized under state law to declare a Gubernatorial State of Emergency upon the occurrence of a natural or man-made disaster. The law gives the Governor broad authorities to implement emergency measures to ensure the safety and health of the residents of the Commonwealth, take appropriate steps to mobilize state assets, and conduct other emergency business for the protection of the Commonwealth.