Blog Post  Emergency Preparedness

Entering 2023, we have witnessed a year fraught with emergencies, including wildfires, air quality alerts, tornadoes, high winds, heavy rains, and flooding. We also are in the midst of the Atlantic Hurricane season, which ends on November 30. While it’s impossible to predict when or where an emergency will occur, it is possible to be prepared for catastrophic events.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency’s (MEMA) website on mass.gov provides several resources to help the public prepare for emergencies. Here are a few pages to review and bookmark for future reference:

1. Safety Tips for Specific Threats & Hazards
2. Be Prepared for Emergencies
3. After a Disaster
4. Consumer Safety and Disaster Information

According to MEMA, every city and town in the Commonwealth has an Emergency Management Director (EMD), and MEMA recommends local government officials responsible for the procurement and purchase of emergency goods and services work with the EMD in their community to ensure proper procedures are followed should an emergency occur. This is important to keep in mind as emergency declarations made on the federal and state levels have specific requirements for processing reimbursements.

Statewide Contract Resources

The Operational Services Division’s (OSD) Statewide Contracts are in place to ensure public entities have access to products and services needed throughout the year, as well as during times of emergency. Several hundred Statewide Contract vendors are designated as emergency suppliers based on their ability to expedite orders and make special accommodations, such as filling products and services needs 24/7 or enabling buyers to pick up needed items outside of regular business hours.

Agencies, municipalities, schools, and other eligible buyers may quickly identify and connect with our emergency suppliers using the Emergency Response Supplies, Services, and Equipment Contact Information. This resource lists the vendor name, associated Statewide Contract, contact person, phone number, and email. OSD recommends keeping a hard copy of this resource on hand should an emergency arise.

Emergency Preparedness Contracts

Here are some products and services that may be useful should a disaster strike in your area:

• Bottled water (GRO39)
• Cots (HLS06)
• Digital signs/cones for traffic control (HLS06)
• Disaster debris management services (PSE03 – Contact Tina Urato of MEMA)
• Disaster debris monitoring services (PSE02 – Contact Tina Urato of MEMA)
• Earthmoving equipment rental (FAC112)
• Fencing rental to cordon off danger areas after the storm (FAC115)
• First aid kits (HLS06, HSP44) 
• Flashlights (FAC101, FAC119, HLS06)Food and supplies GRO38, GRO41)
• Fuels, such as propane and diesel, to run generators (ENE46 [expiring 10/31/23], ENE47)
• Generators (FAC101, FAC112, FAC119, HLS06)
• Hazardous waste removal (FAC110)
• Portable lights and heaters (FAC101, FAC112, FAC119, HLS06)
• Pumps to remove standing water (FAC101, FAC112, FAC119, HLS06)
• Sandbags (FAC101, FAC115, FAC119, HLS06)
• Tradespeople, such as roofers, carpenters, electricians, and cleaning restoration vendors (TRD01, TRD02, TRD04)
• Tree cutting services (FAC120)
• Two-way radios (PSE01)

Access all Statewide Contracts on the Find a Statewide Contract User Guide page. Contact the OSD Help Desk with questions at 888-MA-State (627-8283) or OSDHelpDesk@mass.gov.