MEMA Receives Federal Funds For Regional Training Center

Print Story | Email Story
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has been awarded $1.5 million in federal grant funding to facilitate collaboration among and provide training to emergency management professionals through the Northeast Emergency Management Training and Education Center (NEMTEC).
 
The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP).
 
NEMTEC waslaunched in April 2023, offering accessible, no-cost, comprehensive training and education in emergency management across the six New England states to strengthen the regional response to natural and manmade disasters. Grant funding will enable NEMTEC to expand its reach and capabilities by developing a specific curriculum to address identified capability gaps and emerging topics.
 
The funding will support the expansion of the number and variety of classes offered and help provide training in multiple modalities and on various platforms to meet the diverse needs of New England emergency management professionals.
 
"We are fortunate to have a strong New England coalition of emergency management partners to address the increasing complexity and frequency of crisis events caused by climate change," said Governor Maura Healey. "I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration and FEMA for this funding that will allow MEMA and our neighboring states to deliver relevant and specific training to make our most vulnerable communities more resilient."
 
During 2023, MEMA and NEMTEC provided more than 75 emergency management classes, serving over 1,100 participants. NEMTEC prioritizes innovation in eLearning and proactively seeks emerging technologies and tools that will expand virtual programs to enhance the accessibility of training courses.
 
 "Through collaboration, training, and planning, emergency management professionals will have the tools to expand their core capabilities within their jurisdictions, increasing community-level resilience and reducing long-term vulnerability, especially within disadvantaged communities," said MEMA Director Dawn Brantley.
 
 
 

Tags: MEMA,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Two Men Found Guilty of Marijuana Trafficking

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Monday, May 6, Yebin Mai, 32 of Staten Island, NY and Dem Wu, age 52 of Staten Island, NY, were found guilty by jury of their peers in Berkshire Superior Court.
 
Yebin Mai was found guilty of two charges: Marijuana Trafficking in 100 pounds or more but less than 2,000 pounds and Witness Intimidation. Dem Wu was found guilty of Marijuana Trafficking in 100 pounds or more but less than 2,000 pounds.
 
According to a report, on July 30, 2020, State Police responded to a request for assistance from the Eversource Electric Company. The emergency dispatcher stated that two Eversource linemen were attempting to fix an electrical problem when they had a confrontation with individuals at 72 Jackson Road, Savoy. The residence belonged to Bin Huang after he purchased it in 2017 for $200,000 cash.
 
When state troopers arrived, the linemen stated that they responded to a report from a resident at 72 Jackson Road, Savoy claiming that power was fluctuating. When the linemen arrived at the house, they observed severely damaged wires and insulators leading from the roadside poles to the residence. When the Eversource linemen approached the house a man came out to meet them. The man, later identified as Yebin Mai, spoke limited English; therefore, communication between the Eversource linemen and resident became difficult. The linemen tried to explain that they would need to turn the power off to conduct a safety check of the electric meter and surrounding electrical connections. Mai became agitated. He handed the linemen an envelope filled with money later determined to be $600. The linemen attempted to return the envelope multiple times, but Mai would not take it. The linemen decided to leave the property. They called the police and waited for them to arrive, stated a report.
 
A trooper and Eversource supervisor arrived on the road at the end of 72 Jackson Road's driveway. A short time later, Mai drove down the driveway and attempted to leave in a pick-up truck with New York plates. There were two other passengers in the truck, including Dem Wu.
 
The trooper instructed Mai to stop and turn off the truck which he obeyed. All the individuals returned to the residence so the linemen could complete their inspection.
 
In a police report, the following items were observed at and around the house:
  • 4 separate electrical meters in poorly constructed boxes on the side of the house
  • Some melted wires and metal around the meter boxes (believed to be due to an excessive amount of energy being drawn through the wires)
  • Evidence of a small fire around one of the meter boxes
  • A smell of fresh grown marijuana (which grew once power was cut to the house and fans in the residence stopped running)
  • The sound of multiple fans inside the residence with no visible air ventilation system on the outside of the house
  • Windows with curtains drawn and boarded shut
  • A backyard covered in debris from a renovation, green planning pots, and large florescent light fixtures
  • Ring door cameras
  • A small path in the woods that ended in a pile of used potting soil and roots and stalks of freshly harvested marijuana plants

Additionally, Eversource reported that the monthly electric bill for 72 Jackson Road was approximately $10,000 per month, much higher than the average homeowner's bill.

The individuals on the property were questioned and ultimately allowed to leave. On July 31, 2020, Massachusetts State Police, including the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the District Attorney's Office, and a member of the DEA arrived at 72 Jackson Road to execute a search warrant. 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories