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Red Cross emphasizes disaster preparedness

Rick Lee, executive director of the Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter, addresses human service agencies at a collaborative breakfast last week. Reminder Publications photo by Katelyn Gendron
By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD A "disaster" by definition is a "calamitous event . one occurring suddenly and causing great loss of life, damage or hardship."

What is the difference between the disasters caused by September 11 versus a house fire? There is none, according to Elizabeth McDonald, disaster recovery manager for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), adding that they are both of equal importance to those affected and human service agencies must "keep perspective."

Last Thursday McDonald emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness through a detailed presentation to over 40 members of various Greater Springfield human service agencies at "Coming Together for Our Communities" a breakfast meeting aimed to "engage agency collaboration" hosted American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter.

"The secret to [disaster] preparedness is communities," Rick Lee, executive director of the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter, told those at the breakfast. "Nobody has the resources to do this on their own. We must build strong relationships with agencies and communities."

McDonald explained that by bringing agencies to the discussion early, the four phases of emergency management preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation can be completed with greater ease.

"People are going to recover [from disasters] with or without your help but they will do it easier with your help," McDonald said.

She noted that while many Massachusetts residents believe disasters do not occur in their state, three federally declared disasters and seven small business administration disasters have been declared in Massachusetts since 2005.

McDonald added that by building partnerships now, agencies can network to ensure there is no duplication for services during a disaster, therefore enabling them to "work together for a common goal."

She explained that when communities experience disasters they can call upon many federal and state agencies for assistance such as MEMA, which coordinates local communities requests for disaster aid; the Massachusetts Recovery Alliance (MRA), a committee formed in December that includes every executive office in the Commonwealth; Massachusetts Voluntary Agencies in Disaster (VOAD); faith-based organizations and private sector organizations.

McDonald explained that the MRA has been divided into three subcommittees Housing and Human Needs, Infrastructure and Community Recovery and Economic Recovery to formulate disaster plans for those specific needs.

She noted, however, "plans made won't work during a disaster but it's about knowing where the resources are and how to get them." McDonald explained that a disaster plan must include basic needs but must also have flexibility for alternative variables.

Brenda Brouillette, director of disaster services for the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, said, "There are 25 different agencies here today . we all have something to share. Everyone is a stakeholder in a disaster."

Brouillette said the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter will host another networking and informational breakfast in June.

For more information about MEMA go to www.mass.gov.

For more information about the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter visit their Web site at www.redcrosspioneervalley.org.