Agawam ready for Mother Nature


Glenn Field (center), Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Tauton, Mass., presents Mayor Susan Dawson (second from right) with a certificate recognizing Agawam as a StormReady community. Also in attendance were (from left to right) Michael Nicora, deputy director of Emergency Services, Chet Nicora, director of Emergency Services, and State Rep. Rosemary Sandlin. Reminder Publications photo by Katelyn Gendron

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor

AGAWAM Agawam residents do not experience frequent tornados or hurricanes, however severe weather is the number one threat to those in the Commonwealth, according to officials at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).

On Oct. 1, representatives from the National Weather Service (NWS) officially announced that Agawam had been named as the sixth StormReady community in the state during a ceremony at the MEMA Region III/IV Headquarters on Suffield Street.

MEMA Operations Manager David Glazebrook stressed the importance of taking proactive measures regardless of geographic location.

"In the link of an eye a severe thunderstorm can become a tornadic thunderstorm," he said.

StormReady is a three-year designation by the NWS signifying that a community has taken all of the proactive measures necessary to improve emergency response and citizen preparedness in the event of a extreme weather.

"[StormReady status] can't make storms go away by it can make a difference in how we respond [to natural disasters] and how it affects people's lives," Robert Thompson, meteorologist in charge at the NWS in Taunton, Mass., said.

He added that this designation "should not be confused with 'storm proof,'" however.

"The bottom line is to reduce loss of life and property," Thompson said.

StormReady status is achieved by meeting requirements in six areas: Communications, National Weather Service Information Reception, Weather & Water Monitoring Systems, Local Warning Dissemination, Community Preparedness and Administrative Tools and Record Keeping.

NWS Meteorologist Hayden Frank noted that under the leadership of Emergency Management Director Chet Nicora, Agawam has qualified in each of these areas by instituting emergency notification systems for all residents via Connect-CTY. The town has also acquired various emergency weather monitoring systems and alerts such as Davis Vantage Pro weather station at the Emergency Operations Center, a subscription to WeatherBug and NOAA Weather Radios.

Nicora explained that the StormReady qualification process was laborious, however, necessary to ensure the safety and disaster preparedness of all those in Agawam.

"This [designation] ensures that we're safe, secure and prepared for any weather emergency situation and [also ensures] constant communication via Connect-CTY between MEMA, Emergency Management [personnel] and town officials," Mayor Susan Dawson said.

Nicora noted that Agawam will reapply for StormReady status every three years.