WILDFIRE DANGERS

The recent combination of high temperatures, low humidity, and warm breezes has elevated the risk of brush and forest fires across the Commonwealth.

Wildfires often begin unnoticed, but spread quickly, igniting brush, trees and homes. There are three different classes of wild fires:

• 'Surface fires' are the most common type, burning along the forest floor, moving slowly and killing or damaging trees.
• 'Ground fires' are usually started by lightning, burns on or below the forest floor
• 'Crown fires', which spread rapidly by the wind, moving quickly by jumping along the treetops. 

Since 80% of forest fires are started by negligent human behavior, such as smoking in forested areas or improperly extinguishing campfires, most wildfires are preventable. The public is urged to obey all burning regulations set in place by public safety officials.

CSU RELEASES 2016 HURRICANE OUTLOOK

On April 14, the Tropical Meteorological Project at Colorado State University (CSU) released their 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook. While they predict an ‘average’ season, it is important to remember that it only takes one storm to produce catastrophic impact to communities.

The prediction includes a likelihood of 12 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 5 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 2 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5 with winds of 111 mph or higher). CSU will update their forecast on June 1.

For more information on the CSU forecast, go to http://tropical.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts/2016/apr2016/apr2016.pdf. MEMA encourages everyone to prepare now and know what to do before, during, and after a hurricane makes landfall.

Being prepared helps build stronger, safer and more resilient communities. For Preparedness information: http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/mema/emergencies/hurricanes/.

SUCCESSFUL SEABROOK NUCLEAR EXERCISE

On April 8, FEMA announced its preliminary evaluation of the Commonwealth’s performance during the April 5 biennial federally graded exercise of the Seabrook Nuclear Power Station Emergency Plan. Positive evaluations were handed down for the performances of the local officials from the six MA Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) communities (Amesbury, Merrimac, Salisbury, Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury); 60 participants at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Framingham which included MEMA personnel, MassDOT, American Red Cross, MA Department of Public Health, MA Department of Mental Health, MA State Police, MA National Guard, Mass211, the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security, and FEMA; MEMA’s Region I EOC in Tewksbury; the Emergency Operating Facility (EOF) in Portsmouth, NH; Joint Information Center (JIC) in Portsmouth, NH; Public Affairs Office (PAO) at MEMA HQ; and the Nuclear Incident Assessment Teams (NIAT) in the field. This exercise concluded two years of preparation, included multiple practice exercises.