TownGreen Emergency Preparedness Programs

TownGreen Emergency Preparedness Programs Will Prepare Cape Ann Residents for a Storm

It is essential to be prepared for a climate-related event, whether it is a hurricane, nor’easter, or an extreme rain event with flooding, especially in winter. Cape Ann residents need to know about their municipality’s plans and evacuation routes, where to find more information on emergency shelters, and how municipalities will get the word out.

TownGreen is hosting two public programs to inform Cape Ann residents:

• How Will Cape Ann Respond to A Natural Disaster? Webinar: Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 6:30-7:30pm on Zoom REGISTER (http://bit.ly/TGdisaster)
• Make an Emergency Plan Workshop: Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 6:30-7:30pm at Manchester-by-the-Sea American Legion Amaral-Bailey Post 113 14 Church Street, REGISTER (https://forms.gle/yTMg2aDCLm45E4FQ8)

These programs are free. Pre-registration is recommended, but people can also just show up and sign in.

EVENT 1
How Will Cape Ann Respond to A Natural Disaster? Webinar

This informational webinar will present Cape Ann weather-related emergency scenarios for which residents need to be prepared: before the storm, during the storm, and recovering from a storm. Guest speakers will range from police and fire chiefs from Manchester-by-the-Sea, an emergency management director from Gloucester, a representative from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), and community representatives.

Featured speakers include:

• Todd Fitzgerald, Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Chief
• Jake McNeilly, Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Chief
• Matthew Kolhonen, MEMA representative
• Collin Buckner, Assistant Emergency Management Director and Compliance Officer, City of Gloucester
• Paul Francis, Town of Essex Police Chief
• Ramie Reader, Town of Essex Fire Chief

The Chiefs will provide an overview of the June 2024 Cape Ann tabletop exercise that identified the communities’ strengths and identified gaps. What will be covered:

• Evacuations routes
• Shelter and transit plans for a major hurricane, Nor’easters, and winter storms
• Emergency messaging, with an emphasis on heeding the call to evacuate and unified messaging for local and regional communications

MEMA representative, Matthew Kolhonen, will give a presentation on how the state responds to local natural disasters. A panel of leaders will discuss local responses to a storm and answer questions from the moderator.

EVENT 2

Make an Emergency Plan Workshop

This in-person workshop will help participants create an emergency plan in the event of a hurricane, nor’easter, or major storm. Presenters will facilitate activities that help attendees think through how to keep family members and pets safe. Plus, a building professional will share tips on how to prepare your property for a storm.

The workshop begins with a short presentation on the benefits of having a plan in place and how to talk to family members about it. Public safety officials and disaster management professionals will walk you through an emergency plan template. A Q&A session will round out the program. Featured speakers include:

• Todd Fitzgerald, Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Chief
• Jake McNeilly, Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Chief
• Kyle McWilliam-Lopez, Executive Director, American Red Cross Northeast, MA

Participants will learn how to:

• Complete an emergency plan
• Identify and think through a place to evacuate to, such as staying with family members or locating a hotel
• Review a checklist on what to bring if an evacuation is determined
• Check-in with neighbors who might need help
• Locate important local information and resources

“We all have something to learn about how to prepare for a storm from these local emergency management professionals,” says Maureen Aylward, TownGreen’s executive director. “They have just completed a thorough review of how Cape Ann communities will coordinate in a storm and have valuable information to share.”

About TownGreen
TownGreen’s mission is to act as a catalyst in assisting the greater Cape Ann region in becoming a vibrant and inclusive model of sustainability that is fossil fuel-free and prepared for the impacts of climate change. TownGreen, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been promoting climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, including clean energy, since 2015. We focus on climate awareness education, regional stakeholder convening for Cape Ann communities, and advocating for a net zero future.