Strengthening Coordination in Disaster Response
Barnstable County Emergency Preparedness Director Chip Reilly and Hazardous Materials Specialist Andrew Platt recently joined partners from MassDOT for a visit to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Headquarters in Framingham — known statewide as “The Bunker.”
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss statewide disaster response operations and enhance coordination between MEMA and local and regional emergency management partners. Rich LaTour, MEMA’s Assistant Director of Operations, led an in-depth discussion on how the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is activated and staffed during emergencies, outlining how state agencies are integrated to support communities across the Commonwealth.
MEMA officials also detailed how the Massachusetts National Guard is mobilized to assist local jurisdictions during major disasters, emphasizing the importance of unified planning and communication. This exchange provided valuable insights into Barnstable County’s ongoing work to strengthen local response capabilities and its connection to statewide operations.
Following the discussion, participants toured the historic bunker and gained a deeper understanding of its critical role in coordinating the Commonwealth’s emergency response.
