Council appoints liaison to emergency committee
Date: 11/21/2012
By Carley Dangona
carley@thereminder.comWEST SPRINGFIELD — Earlier this month, the Town Council appointed Councilor Lida Powell as liaison to the newly formed Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).
"I spent 15 years in the active duty Army," Powell stated. "I believe that has given me a great base for disaster reaction. After the military I became a registered nurse, where I have worked in a level 1 trauma emergency room, a psychiatric hospital and a detox unit, among others."
Powell is also a member of the West Springfield Medical Reserve Corps.
She cited her appointment to the LEPC as a means to practice her skills and to network with other professionals that she would collaborate with in the midst of a disaster.
"She was a tremendous asset after the tornado, helping to setup and run the shelter," Kathleen Bourque, Town Council president, said. "As liaison, Powell will serve as a direct link for us, as well as being an asset to the committee."
Michele Cabral, director of Emergency Management and Economic Development administrator, discussed LEPC. "The major project right now is establishing the committee and applying for certification with the Commonwealth. We have been a start up LEPC for years and seek to obtain full certification, which is a three-year process," she said.
"The goal of LEPC is to have the municipal offices, civic organizations and [the] business community work collectively to plan for emergencies," Cabral added. "While the initial focus of LEPC was planning for hazardous material incidents, the planning is expanding into other areas. Bringing together the different organizations allows us to benefit from a broader set of experiences and skills."
The LEPC members represent many areas, such as the Police, Fire, School, and Health departments, Baystate Hospital, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, CSX Corp. and the Eastern States Exposition, in addition to others.
Powell said there were several areas where the town could improve.
"We really need to work on communication; especially within the affected area. Most people didn't know we had a shelter. I went door to door to let people know. We also need some sort of alert, such as an air raid siren. I was actually sleeping when the tornado hit because I worked nights and there was no pre-emptive warning," Powell explained.
She added, "As for my role, I look forward to assisting where I can."
