The Belmont Emergency Management Agency (BEMA) is an extension of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to coordinate emergency services with various state, local and federal agencies during a state of emergency or alert. During such emergencies/alerts, MEMA operates from their headquarters in Framingham and communicates with local emergency management agencies, such as Belmont’s, via radio, fax, message beepers, the Internet and telephone.
2004 has been an exciting year for the Agency. Before I outline our major accomplishments I would like to thank Fire Chief David L. Frizzell for the 7 years of leadership he provided as Director of Belmont’s Emergency Management Agency. With his promotion to Chief of the Fire Department, I have been appointed Director of Emergency Management and I look forward to serving the residents of Belmont.
The Agency was awarded two grants and received a private donation this year. The first grant was for $12,800 and is part of the Homeland Security program being conducted nation-wide. In addition to the Homeland Security grant, Belmont received $3,200 in Citizen Corps funds for the Community Emergency Response Team training (CERT) and a private donation of $3,000. The $3,000 was donated by a Belmont couple who read about the CERT program and wanted to ensure the CERT training continued. Some of the major accomplishments of the Agency are listed below.
The agency monitored Town emergency activities to maintain a readiness for a situation -appropriate response.
The Agency participated in Emergency Planning surveys required by Federal and State Agencies.
The Agency conducted a training program for Community Emergency Response Team. The training was well received and it is anticipated that additional grant funds will be available to continue this training. We are pleased to report we now have 38 Citizens trained as Community Emergency Response Team members.
The project relocating the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) from the Waverley Fire station to the Chenery Middle School is progressing and although more work is needed, the new EOC is now operational.
I would like to welcome Assistant Fire Chief Angus Davison to the role of Assistant Director of Emergency Management. Assistant Chief Davison has been a member of the Belmont Fire Department for 16 years and brings significant knowledge to the Emergency Management Agency.
I would like to thank Mr. Robert Gad III, Fire Lieutenant Rick Nohl, Fire Captain David Demarco, Fire Fighter Ross Vonna and Mr. John Steeves for their continued support to BEMA.
Special thanks go out to Liz and Graham Allison for their kind donation and personal interest in the CERT program and lastly, I would like to thank all of the Town departments that have provided support to the Emergency Management Agency.
Respectfully sSubmitted,
Leo J. Saidnawey,
Emergency Management Director
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