Mother Nature reminds us to be prepared for worst

After returning to some semblance of routine following the October winter storm, it is time to reflect as to what went well and what fell short from my perspective as Town Manager.Perhaps the most glaring shortcoming is the complete unfamiliarity with the town’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). This heavy volume was adopted in 2005, and, judging from the dust, I don’t believe it left the shelf very often. So what does the Emergency Operations Plan call for?First, the EOP calls for the implementation of an Emergency Operations Center (EOC; get used to many acronyms with emergency management). The EOC is basically the command center during an emergency. The EOC should be activated and appropriately staffed prior to a pending event. Key personnel at the EOC include political, emergency management, public safety, public works, medical, financial, educational, and even legal personnel. Other personnel are assigned for communications, sheltering and mass care, utility liaisons, and animal care.So when and where was the EOC activated? It never was activated, so all of the functions and responsibilities of the EOC were lost. No common point of contact or information was established, leaving us to coordinate activities and information through informal means. The lack of an EOC activation in this instance is inexcusable. Sadly, even if an EOC were activated, I don’t believe many people would have been familiar enough with their responsibilities to make the EOC functional anyway. This issue will be immediately addressed.With a functional EOC, communications with area residents and the media would have been much more efficient. Information would have flowed out of the EOC to residents, and residents’ issues and concerns would have flowed to the appropriate personnel. Town communications must improve.Several individuals stepped up to meet the call to serve the community in its greatest time of need since 1955. Sadly, many individuals also stepped back. I was encouraged by some and disappointed with others. I offer deep thanks to those who provided assistance to their fellow residents, whether it was on the streets clearing debris, fighting fires, directing traffic, or working in the shelter. Many area businesses were exceptionally supportive. Without their efforts, many in the town would have had even greater difficulty.Perhaps one of the greatest needs that the town must confront is the development of an adequate shelter. At its most crowded time, the Senior Center was filled with nearly fifty residents and related material: personal baggage, cots, food, and other supplies. The center has one bathroom for each gender and no shower facilities. It took a major effort to breakdown the cots each morning in order to then prepare and serve breakfast. The most vivid demonstrated need for additional shelter space occurred on Wednesday evening: Chestnut Grove had to be evacuated for air quality issues. Suddenly, dozens of additional seniors (and some pets) fled into the Senior Center. If we had to house them, it would have been an unmanageable situation. This is another issue that must be immediately addressed.We have survived a few rounds of Russian roulette with the recent disasters — the earthquake, Tropical Storm Irene, and the winter storm — with no deaths or significant injuries (actually, not a single injury in any of the events has been reported to me). This good fortune cannot be expected to continue, nor should we rely on such fate. I consider it, as the leader of the town staff, to be a high privilege and responsibility to be entrusted with the health, safety, and well-being of the town and its residents during times of need. I hope that other town employees feel the same powerful sense of responsibility and duty. I will work diligently to ensure that the safety of our residents is protected.On different note, congratulations to the winners in the Nov. 8 elections. I look forward to working with the new Board of Selectmen. I wish to also thank former Selectmen Karen Beadle and Lisa Smith for giving me the opportunity to serve this community for the past six months, and hopefully much longer. Your service and dedication to the town should be appreciated by all. Dale Martin is the town manager of Winchester.