Activation Levels
MEMA's SEOC is located in Framingham and operates at three levels:
1. Steady State/Monitoring: MEMA is operating with normal 24/7 staffing. The Director, Response and Field Services Section Chief, Regional Managers, and MEMA Communications Center are monitoring conditions and events throughout the State and region. Staff is available to assist municipalities and state agencies if the need arises.
2. Partial Activation: Additional staff is on duty at the SEOC. Some General and Command Staff and some Emergency Support Functions have been activated. Enhanced operations and planning activities are taking place. MEMA anticipates limited requests for assistance from state agencies and municipalities and that state resources and capabilities will not be exhausted. A need for federal or interstate support is not anticipated.
3. Full Activation: The SEOC if fully operational. All needed General and Command Staff positions are filled and all needed Emergency Support Functions are activated. A FEMA State Liaison Officer or IMAT may be present in the SEOC and the FEMA Region 1 RRCC may be activated. The Governor has declared or is likely to declare a state of emergency and has requested, or is likely to request a federal emergency or major disaster declaration. MEMA anticipates numerous requests for support from municipalities, state agencies, and organizations. Resource requests may exceed state capabilities; mutual aid via EMAC or IEMAC and/or federal assistance is anticipated.
MEMA also has three Regional Emergency Operation Centers located in Agawam, Bridgewater and Tewksbury that support the SEOC at all activation levels.
Request Assistance
Communities can request emergency resources from the Commonwealth by:
- Calling their MEMA Regional Offices
- Region 1 Tewksbury: 978-328-1500
- Region 2 Bridgewater: 508-427-0400
- Region 3 & 4 Agawam: 413-750-1400
- Calling the MEMA SEOC Dispatch: 508-820-2000
- Sending a Resource Request through WebEOC
When requesting state assistance from MEMA, please specify your mission needs, rather than a specific resource.
Emergency Support Function Team
The Emergency Support Function (ESF) Team is comprised of state, federal, volunteer, public, and private sector partners and organizations. Representatives from these agencies and organizations come together at the SEOC to support response coordination and recovery impacts when the Commonwealth is impacted by a disaster.
The ESF concept is part of the National Response Framework and is designed to help agencies work together in response to an incident. The ESF Team meets on a quarterly basis and participates in numerous exercises throughout the Commonwealth to stay prepared.
The Massachusetts ESF Team is broken down into 16 emergency functions:
ESF-1 Transportation
ESF-2 Communications
ESF-3 Public Works and Engineering
ESF-4 Fire Fighting
ESF-5 Business and Industry
ESF-6 Mass Care, Emergency Housing, and Human Services
ESF-7 Volunteers and Donations
ESF-8 Public Health and Medical Services
ESF-9 Search and Rescue
ESF-10 Hazardous Materials and Environmental Protection
ESF-11 Agriculture, Animals, and Natural Resources
ESF-12 Energy
ESF-13 Public Safety and Security
ESF-14 Recovery
ESF-15 Public Information and External Affairs
ESF-16 Military Support