Gov. Baker Proclaims Hurricane Preparedness Week July 10 through 16

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Hurricane Preparedness Week, as proclaimed by Governor Charlie Baker, runs from July 10 to 16.

All week, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) will engage local communities across Massachusetts to highlight the risk of tropical storms and hurricanes and encourage residents to take steps to prepare. As part of MEMA’s commitment to diversity and equity in emergency planning, this year’s campaign will include information to equip those living with disabilities and specific medical needs.

“Hurricane Preparedness Week is an annual reminder of the hazards that the Commonwealth faces and how residents can prepare during hurricane season,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. "While it’s been 31 years since Hurricane Bob made landfall in New England, hurricanes and tropical storms remain a threat to Massachusetts and we ask residents to learn if they live in a hurricane evacuation zone, develop an emergency plan, build an emergency kit, and stay informed.”

For the 2022 hurricane season, MEMA has continued its longstanding commitment to deepen local, state, federal, and private-sector partnerships. The Agency has convened meetings to discuss logistics, operational plans, and capabilities; facilitated a series of tabletop exercises; and participated in a large tabletop exercise with Emergency Support Function (ESF) partners and the National Weather Service.

Additionally, MEMA Acting Director Dawn Brantley serves as Co-Chair of the National Emergency Management Association Diversity and Equity Committee which focuses on identifying opportunities to advance diversity and inclusion in the workforce; and ensures equity and accessibility of emergency management policies and programs. While MEMA and its partners are taking steps to ensure the Commonwealth is ready, preparedness is a shared responsibility that all should take part in.

“While MEMA continues to prepare for disasters, we can’t do it alone – preparedness is a whole community responsibility and we want everyone to be prepared for the challenges and impacts they may face in an emergency,” said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Acting Director Dawn Brantley. “I urge residents with disabilities and medical needs to take steps to prepare for their circumstances by customizing their emergency plans, gathering necessary supplies and planning with their support network who may be able to assist during a disaster. For those individuals, I want to assure you that MEMA takes accessibility of emergency programs and services very seriously and we work year-round to ensure that we are prepared to support all individuals equally and equitably before, during, and after disasters.”

First Responder Awards Honor Excellence, Highlight Mental Health

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:32AM / Saturday, May 23, 2026

Keynote speaker Nicole Ferry, above, urged first responders not to suffer in silence; right, the committee recognized outstanding work by its members. 

Reader's note: This article discusses suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. To contact the Crisis Text Line, text HELLO to 741741. More information on crisis hotlines in Massachusetts can be found here.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — First responders gathered at the Proprietor's Lodge last week in advance of EMS Week to celebrate and support their colleagues. 

The EMS Awards Banquet, held by the Emergency Medical Services Committee of Berkshire County, included 20 awards for outstanding responses to specific calls over the past year and for excellence in various fields. 

Brian Andrews, president of County Ambulance Services and EMSCO, said its mission is to support and uplift the EMS community with compassionate care, critical resources, and "unwavering support" to first responders and their families.

"That mission is built on a simple but powerful principle: caring for our own," he said. 

"… EMS is a profession built around caring for others, but those who care for others also need to be cared for. They need support, encouragement, training, resources, recognition, and at times they need to know that this community stands behind them and their families." 

Andrews said EMSCO is one of the most active and successful county EMS organizations in Western Mass, and while its members may wear different patches and serve different communities, when the call comes in, they are all connected by the same mission. 

The evening included a $1,000 donation from EMSCO member Berkshire Community College Foundation, and County Ambulance paramedic supervisor Austin White requested that his 40 Under 40 donation be sent to the committee.