DPS ASSISTS WITH TORNADO EFFORTS

During the early evening hours of Wednesday, June 1 st, 2011, several tornadoes roared through Massachusetts. Violent winds caused damage in about two dozen communities. The aggressive storm sheared-off rooftops, uprooted trees, and, in some cases, totally destroyed residential and commercial structures alike. Almost immediately, Governor Patrick declared a state of emergency, calling into action nearly 1,000 National guardspersons, and other emergency personnel, including the Massachusetts Urban Search and Rescue Team (MATF 1).

As the storm first touched-down in Westfield, Department of Public Safety (DPS)

Commissioner, Thomas Gatzunis was on-route to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) bunker in Framingham. Upon his arrival, Commissioner Gatzunis met with MEMA Director, Kurt Schwartz, along with other federal, state, local safety officials to assess the damaging swath of the storm. As the storm progressed, showing no signs of relief, Commissioner Gatzunis directed DPS Building Chief of Inspections, Robert Anderson and DPS Building Inspector, Gene Novak to report to the bunker to lend support. Soon thereafter, all fifteen DPS building inspectors were put on alert.

At approximately 6:45 p.m. DPS Inspector, David Holmes dispatched to the Town of Monson. Inspector Holmes aided Monson Building Commissioner, Harold Leaming and other public safety officials throughout the night. Meanwhile, Commissioner Gatzunis and Chief Anderson continued to meet with MEMA and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) representatives throughout the night. At approximately 1:30 a.m. on June 2 nd, eleven (11) DPS building inspectors were directed to report to affected areas at first light.

Commissioner Gatzunis met with the following DPS inspectors at the Springfield National Guard Armory at 6:00 a.m. on June 2 nd.

  • Gordon Bailey,
  • Louise Vera,
  • Joe McEvoy,
  • John Bennett,
  • Ron Wetmore,
  • Billy Horrocks, and
  • Marc LaPointe.

Simultaneously, Inspectors Jeff Putnam, Paul DiChiara, and David Holmes met at the Ware National Guard Armory. Soon thereafter, teams of DPS Inspectors along with MEMA and FEMA personnel were dispatched from the Springfield and Ware meeting points to locations in hard-hit areas of Westfield, Springfield, West Springfield, Wilbraham, Brimfield and Monson. Chief Anderson and Inspector Novak reported back to the Framingham Bunker. Inspectors Andy Majuri, John Wojciechowicz and Paul Piepiora joined efforts later in the day and DPS Building Inspector Manager, Ralph Cirelli (who was on vacation) monitored the situation and joined efforts upon his return, at which point all DPS building inspection staff were actively dedicated to the effort.

Once on-scene, DPS inspectors began to assess building damage, employing techniques acquired through training provided by the Applied Technology Council (ATC) of California. The ATC first developed building damage assessment techniques to assist in the aftermath of frequent seismic events occurring in and around the state of California. Originally, the technique known as ATC 20 or Rapid Building Damage Assessment , established procedures to allow building code enforcement officials, engineers or other qualified individuals to quickly determine whether a building is safe to occupy in whole or in part, is safe to occupy only for brief periods as repairs are made or is simply unsafe and dangerous and therefore, may not be re-occupied. Later, methodologies were developed to assess damage due to high winds or severe storms. This method is known as ATC 45.

Using the ATC 45 system, DPS inspectors first performed rapid assessments of building damage to help establish the severity of the storm which assisted in determining whether the event would be classified as a federal emergency. Later in the process, DPS inspectors returned to mark damaged buildings by affixing color coded placards in accordance with the ATC system identified below. ( DPS inspectors have similarly assisted in Mississippi during post Hurricane Katrina\Rita efforts in 2005 as well as in the Town of Danvers following the 2006 Thanksgiving eve building explosion that rocked that area.)

Green Placard INSPECTED (No Restriction, safe to occupy)

Yellow Placard LIMITED ENTRY (Off limits to unauthorized personnel)

Red Placard UNSAFE (Do not enter or occupy)

DPS inspection teams continued efforts throughout the weekend of June 3 rd and 4 th having received a request from Harold Leaming for assistance in the Towns of Monson and Brimfield. Additionally, municipal building inspectors Tim Neyhart from the Town of Hadley, Laurie Livoli from Concord, Jack Keough form Warren, and Peter Fein from Amherst volunteered to assist through an emergency assistance compact established years earlier. Other municipal inspectors contacted Commissioner Leaming and other building commissioners in affected areas and arrived directly to offer support. Those inspectors were:

  • Nelson Burlingame from Uxbridge,
  • John Couture from Sutton,
  • Dan Hellyer from East Longmeadow,
  • Curtis Meskus from Charlton,
  • Brian Florence from Denis,
  • Ed Walsh from Canton,
  • Fred Svenson from Kingston,
  • Brain Gale from Orange,
  • Michael White from Bridgewater,
  • Louis Hasbrouk from Northampton,
  • Robert Whalen from Middleborough,
  • Richard Calisewski from Deerfield, and
  • Jeff Taylor from Brookfield.

Ultimately, over 1400 buildings were assessed for damage during response to the June tornado. One-hundred and nineteen (119) structures were deemed to be unsafe to re-occupy and therefore affixed with a red placard; 159 received yellow, cautionary placards; and 160 were assigned green placards. A further break-down of inspections is provided in the table below.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Tornado Assistance Response

(As of June 10, 2011)

Type and Number of Reports

Number of Reports\Forms

Total Number of Rapid Assessment Reports Generated

1476

Total Number of Initial Rapid Assessments

1038

Percent Damage to Structure

Number of Reports\Forms

100 Percent Damaged

202

70 to 100 Percent Damaged

162

30 to 70 Percent Damaged

223

10 to 30 Percent Damaged

258

1 to 10 Percent Damaged

162

0 to 1 Percent Damaged

73

No Damage

18

Placards Posted

Number of

Placards Posted

Green (Inspected - Okay to Occupy)

160

Yellow (Restricted Entry)

159

Red (Unsafe - Do Not Enter)

119

Total Number of Placards Posted

438

DPS Commissioner Gatzunis wishes to extend best wishes for a speedy recovery and return to normalcy to all who were affected by the event. Additionally, he wishes to thank all those who responded to the scene to assist in whatever manner possible. By all accounts, the effort was well orchestrated and successful in its mission.

Although not first responders, the DPS employs building inspectors who are ready and able to assist with any and all building related emergency. Additionally, the DPS enjoys a cooperative arrangement between MEMA and the Federation of Massachusetts Building Officials (Federation) to jointly respond to local emergencies. The cooperative arrangement extends to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the event that response to emergencies beyond the borders of the commonwealth is necessary. It is the true hope that such inspection teams are activated rarely, if ever. However, it is comforting to know that dedicated DPS employees and other state, municipal and federal authorities are available to assist in the aftermath of adverse natural or man-made events.

(FEMA). Currently there are 150 people on the MATF-1 team. Please visit their website @ http://www.matf.org/to learn more about the task force.