Homeland Security - Quabbin Reservoir - Emergency Prepardness

Amherst is receiving about $2000 from Homeland Security to help ensure Hampshire County's preparedness in case of a terrorist attack against the Quabbin Reservoir or other critical component or our infrastructure.


QUABBIN RESERVOIR AND NORTHAMPTON HEALTH DEPT - FINAL REPORT


Roles and Responsibilities of Team Members

The health directors (Ben Wood and Judy Metcalf) oversaw the QI process and monitored its progress in consultation with the project consultant. 

The inspectional services staff (Aimee Petrosky, Javeria Iqbal Mir, and Ryan Fitzemeyer) received referrals/appointments from the clerical staff and responded to complaints via phone and e-mail within 48 business hours and conducted onsite inspections as warranted.

You've come a long way, baby!

Just a few years ago Javeria had to sue Homeland Security to gain citizenship, now they pay her to study the vulnerabilities of the Quabbin Reservoir. 

 Amherst Health Dept. minutes - 10/27/11

Hampshire County Emergency Preparedness Coalition Amherst is a member of the Hampshire County Emergency Preparedness Coalition (HCEPC) which is funded by Homeland Security money.

Easthampton serves as the host community and is responsible to disperse funds to member communities; Amherst receives about $2000 per year. Ms. Federman explained emergency preparedness needs for larger communities are different from the needs of the smaller communities. 

The smaller communities need more coalition support because they do not have the staff
resources that the larger communities have. The HCEPC activities and expenditures are overseen by an Executive Committee which historically has been made up of the larger community representatives, including Ms. Federman; however, in September all the larger community representatives came off the Executive Committee. 

Ms. Federman reported that she and the Northampton and Quabbin Health District representatives will begin to explore the creation of forming a second Hampshire County coalition with the intention of focusing on the emergency preparedness needs of the larger communities. When asked if the smaller communities were in favor of this idea, Ms. Federman responded that she does not know, but she suspects they will not be. Ms. Federman pointed out state plans exist for Hampshire County which includes Fire and Police, but not Public Health. 

Each Hampshire County town has a local plan; Amherst Fire, Police and Health Departments work together on the emergency management plan for the town.

C. Staffing  Update Sanitarian Javeria Mir will work from home next week and then officially begin her maternity leave the following week leaving the Health Department without 1 full-time inspector. Ms. Federman stated Northampton has offered support during Ms. Mir’s absence.