Annually.

At least annually, sometimes twice a year. Recently we participated in a regional tabletop exercise that included 16 North East Homeland Security Regional Advisory Council  communities, state and federal and MBTA law enforcement, U.S. military personnel, area health and hospital professionals, Departments of Public Works and EPA & DEP representatives. This exercise centered around an explosion on the Medford – Wellington Station platform during morning rush hour. To make it interesting the explosive material was radioactive. This added additional agencies and expertise to the exercise. The After Action Report is in its final stages of preparation and will be reviewed by all participants to improve future performances.

The Office of Emergency Management is developing the Citizens Emergency Response Teams for service to the community. Once this group is formally organized notice will be made to the community seeking registration of members.

Click here to access a Disaster Preparation Kit List. Acquire and store as much of these materials as possible and inform your family where they are and how to use them.

If the power is on television, radio and the internet work best. If the power is out battery operated radios will often be the only consistent information source available. If the power is on or off try to stay off the telephone unless you have an emergency situation. This will allow more emergency calls to arrive at the public safety agencies and facilitate the use of Code Red or Reverse 911 to get phone messages to you.