SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Emergency Management Agency is hosting their annual 24-hour communications exercise open to the public. The event begins on June 22 at 2 p.m. and goes until 2 p.m. on June 23.
Taking place on the DPW facility on 661 College Highway, emergency management experts operate under simulated disaster conditions. Alike to last year, the specific simulated scenario is focused on a complete and unexpected loss of the internet and a cellular communications network.
Emergency Management Director Charlie Dunlap. (WNG File Photo)
Southwick Emergency Management views this scenario as a very realistic disaster affecting all societies.
“They depend on it (technology) and what happens if it’s just not there?” said Southwick Emergency Management Director Charlie Dunlap.
Dunlap then pointed out the big snow storm in 2011 that swept through Western Massachusetts knocking out electricity throughout many communities for a number of days.
“People had no communication to the outside world,” said Dunlap. “You take a lot for granted.”
According to Dunlap, there will be three or four high frequency radio stations set up for the exercise in order to show the public how emergency management agencies would deal with this type of disaster.
This type of exercise is conducted nationwide and throughout Canada by around 4,000 emergency management agencies. Anyone who’s interested in attending the event or has questions or comments, call the Southwick Emergency Management office at 413-569-0308.
