Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)

Exercises bring together the whole community to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all hazards. MEMA's Exercise Unit maintains the state's comprehensive exercise program to help validate plans and policies at both the state and local levels. #WeAreEM

Congratulations to the City of Leominster, MA on completing the North Nashua Riverbank Stabilization Project to mitigate the impacts of erosion. MEMA staff met with local officials, FEMA officials, and others who were all on hand during the final site visit for the project. The project addressed and stabilized a section of the existing southern bank of the North Nashua River to minimize future erosion. A portion of that riverbank was exposed and eroding toward a major sewer line. MEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Unit provided direct technical assistance with grant application development and assisted with project monitoring until its completion. #MitigationMonday

MEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Unit works to identify potential vulnerability to threats and hazards across MA and helps communities implement plans and projects to minimize the impact of disasters and other emergencies. #WeAreEM

#HurricanePrepWeek Did you know, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England the New Bedford Hurricane Protection Barrier has prevented millions of dollars in flood damages and coastal tidal surge since it was built? MEMA Agency Met. Michael Souza explains why this mitigation project is so important. #ReadyMA

#HurricanePrepWeek Coastal areas are not the only locations that tropical storms and hurricanes can impact. MEMA Agency Meteorologist Michael Souza explains how those storms can also bring flooding and damaging winds inland, which is why it's important to be prepared regardless of where in MA you live. #ReadyMA

#HurricanePrepWeek Hurricane evacuation zones are areas known to be particularly prone to storm surge flooding. If you needed to evacuate, do you have a plan? MEMA Agency Meteorologist Michael Souza explains how to learn if either your home or workplace lies within a hurricane evacuation zone. #ReadyMA

#HurricanePrepWeek To alert the public of potential hurricane conditions, the National Weather Service Boston, MA issues Hurricane Watches and Warnings. Do you know the difference between them? MEMA Agency Meteorologist Michael Souza explains what they mean and what the public should do in the event one is issued. #ReadyMA

Many communities rely on grant funding to support projects that help make them more resilient to various threats and hazards. MEMA’s Mitigation and Recovery Grants Support Coordinator works with several units within the agency to implement federally funded natural mitigation and recovery grant programs. #WeAreEM

This week’s MEMA East Emergency Management Director (EMD) Meeting featured timely presentations on the upcoming hurricane season and other severe weather hazards, as well as a first-hand account of a recent apartment fire response and the sheltering and recovery efforts that followed. MEMA’s EMD meetings provide a multifaceted educational experience to strengthen emergency management practices in the state. Thank you to Framingham State University for hosting us on campus, and to the presenters from WCVB Channel 5, National Weather Service Boston, Town of Randolph, Massachusetts, and our MEMA staff! #WeAreEM #professionaldevelopment #emergencymanagement

MEMA’s Geographic Information System (GIS) Coordinator uses digital maps to analyze and manage data to support emergency management personnel before, during, and after disasters or emergencies. #WeAreEM #MEMA