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Brookline Health Department 
Emergency Preparedness
Division of Emergency Preparedness
Dawn Carmen Sibor, M.Ed, Director of Emergency Preparedness
617-730-2656
Public Health Ready Recognition
Medical Reserve Corps
Urban Area Security Initiative
Massachusetts Emergency Preparedness Region 4B
Preparing Brookline Residents
Local Emergency Telephone Numbers
Emergency Shelters
Division of Emergency Preparedness Contact Information
Website Links
Local Information

 
The Division of Emergency Preparedness is concerned with protecting Brookline residents from potential public health threats. In so doing, the division is establishing the Department’s Emergency Plan, as well as a Medical Reserve Corps comprised of a group of volunteers who are willing to assist the Department with medical, public health, and administrative needs in the event of an emergency. In addition, the division has created multidisciplinary partnerships with residents and organizations throughout Brookline and its neighboring communities, to further enhance the safety of the town’s residents, and to reach its goal of attaining National Public Health Ready recognition in the near future.

 
Public Health Ready Recognition

The Town of Brookline Department of Public health has been working to achieve Public Health Ready recognition. Project Public Health Ready is a collaborative effort between the National Association of County and City Health Officials, Columbia University, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To obtain Public Health Ready recognition, local public health agencies must demonstrate that they are ready to respond to bioterrorism, infectious disease outbreaks, and public health emergencies and threats, focusing specifically on the following three areas:
  • Emergency Preparedness and Planning
     
  • Workforce Competency Development
     
  • Exercises and Simulations
     

To begin to realize this goal, staff members at the Town of Brookline Department of Public Health are completing an on-line course in basic emergency preparedness, offered through the Center for Public Health Preparedness at Columbia University, as well as a personal communication plan for themselves and their families. In addition, the Division of Emergency Preparedness has been working to identify and survey sites within the town that can serve as potential points-of-distribution (PODs), in the event that disaster mitigation plans call for vaccinations or other medical supplies to be distributed to Brookline residents.
 
Medical Reserve Corps
The Town of Brookline Department of Public Health is recruiting, training, mobilizing, and coordinating a group of community-based volunteers, known as the Medical Reserve Corps, who can serve during a local emergency health situation and assist with local public health needs throughout the year.
  • What might MRC volunteers do?
    Medical Reserve Corps volunteers may be called upon to assist their communities with large scale disasters, such as natural disasters, terrorism/bioterrorism, and infectious disease outbreaks. Volunteer responsibilities during crises could include:
           Delivering medical care and providing mental health support services (within expertise level)
     
      Providing language translation and interpretation services
     
      Offering administrative support
     
      Greeting Residents as they arrive at dispensing or vaccination clinics.
     
    In addition, MRC volunteers may be asked to participate in health promotion activities.

  • Who should join the MRC?
     
      Practicing, retired, or otherwise employed health professionals with clinical expertise (e.g. physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, nursing assistants, veterinarians, respiratory therapists)
     
      Public health professionals (e.g. epidemiologists, health educators)
     
      Medical, nursing, public health, and other allied health professional students
      Others who are interested in assisting their community (e.g. social workers, interpreters, chaplains, and any others who can provide administrative assistance)
     
      ** U.S. citizenship is not required to be a MRC volunteer. All legal US residents are encouraged to volunteer.
     
     



     

  • What will MRC volunteers receive in return for their service?
    Free training and educational opportunities in:
     
      CPR/First Aid
     
      Incident Command
     
      Risk Communication
     
      Additional emergency preparedness trainings
     
      ** MRC volunteers will receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) when possible upon completion of the training courses.
     
    Identification cards, so that volunteers will be clearly identified as part of our team.
     
    Opportunities to network with other Brookline residents.
     

  • How can I join the Brookline MRC?
    Please download, print, and complete the appropriate Brookline MRC application:

    -Permanent residents

    -Students and short-term residents

    Upon completion, please mail the application to:
     

    Dawn Sibor
    Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
    Town of Brookline
    Department of Public Health
    11 Pierce Street
    Brookline, MA 02445
    Fax: (617) 730-2296

     
    Should you have any additional questions about the MRC, you can contact Dawn Sibor at:
    Phone: (617) 730-2656
    Dawn_Sibor@town.brookline.ma.us

     
       
       
       
     

     

Urban Area Security Initiative
Through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Area Security Initiative, funding has been granted to nine cities and towns in the metropolitan area—Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, and Winthrop—to prevent, prepare for, and respond to both terrorist and naturally occurring threats. While the activities in the grant will be administered through Mayor Menino’s Office of Homeland Security, each city and town will receive emergency equipment, and will participate in planning and drills to enhance the region’s overall preparedness level. The goal of the grant is to promote comprehensive, cooperative, and interdisciplinary approaches to public health emergency management. The disciplines that are participating in the initiative are: public health, fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, public works, and health care.  Emergency preparedness staff members from the Brookline Health Department meet with health officials from participating cities and towns on a regular basis to integrate and discuss their emergency plans. 

Massachusetts Emergency Preparedness Region 4B
To appropriately address regional public health threats, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has divided the state into 7 regions and apportioned funds accordingly. Brookline is located in Region 4B, which is comprised of 27 communities and a total population of 980,000 people located throughout the Boston metropolitan area. Designated health department staff members from each community meet monthly to strengthen the regions collective capacity to effectively respond to emergencies. An overarching goal for Region 4B during FY2005 is to create comprehensive all-hazards response plans. This year, the Region’s planning efforts were tested when the communities of Brookline, Belmont, Arlington, Newton and Watertown worked together to host a sub-regional Flu clinic to vaccinate residents following the Flu vaccine shortage.

Preparing Brookline Residents
At Home:
Disasters are, by their nature, unpredictable and can cause significant emotional stress for those located both within and outside of the disaster zone. For this reason, the Brookline Department of Public Health is encouraging all Brookline residents to have a plan in place, prior to an emergency, to ensure that you and your family have an updated communication plan and adequate emergency supplies for your home. Creating and regularly reviewing your emergency plan will help you understand what to do, who to call, and where to go in an emergency.
  • Click here to download and print a family disaster plan for you to complete with your family.
     
  • Click here to view the Department of Homeland Security’s Emergency Survival Kit
     
  • Click here to view planning tips for people with disabilities or special health needs.
Local Emergency Telephone Numbers:
Emergency (voice/TTY) 9-1-1
Brookline Emergency Operations Center 617-646-2772
Fire (non-emergency) 617-730-2260
Police (non-emergency) 617-730-2222
State’s Terrorism Tip Line 888-USA-5458
Brookline Health Department 617-730-2300
Brookline Public Schools 617-730-2401
Town of Brookline Switchboard 617-730-2000
Selectmen’s Office 617-730-2200
Brookline Public Works Department 617-730-2156
Brookline Water and Sewer Division 617/730-2170
Brookline Human Relations—Youth Resources 617/730-2330
Emergency Shelters
  • Brookline High School, located at 115 Greenough Street, has been designated as the Town’s primary emergency shelter.

Division of Emergency Preparedness Contact Information
Dawn Sibor
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Town of Brookline
Department of Public Health
11 Pierce Street
Brookline, MA 02445
Phone: (617) 730-2656
Fax: (617) 730-2296
Dawn_Sibor@town.brookline.ma.us
Website Links
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bioterrorism Information: http://www.mass.gov/dph/topics/bioterrorism/bt.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Bioterrorism Information: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/
Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Sacety Statewide Anti-Terrorism Unified Response Network (SATURN)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: www.ready.gov
American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/
American Red Cross Children’s Guide to Disasters: http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_602_,00.html
American Red Cross Special Needs and Concerns: http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_603_,00.html
American Red Cross Pet Safe Program: http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_604_,00.html
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency: http://www.mass.gov/mema
Federal Emergency Management Agency: http://www.fema.gov/
Department of Health and Human Services Disasters and Emergencies: http://www.hhs.gov/disasters/
Medical Reserve Corps: http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/
National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.noaa.gov/
Disaster Help: https://disasterhelp.gov/portal/jhtml/index.jhtml
Disaster Relief: http://www.disasterrelief.org/
Create your own personal safety plan: https://www.homelandplans.com/Default.asp
 
Local Information:
Town of Brookline Emergency Management Team: http://www.townofbrooklinemass.com/emt/
Town of Brookline Emergency Management Team Brochure: http://www.townofbrooklinemass.com/emt/PDFs/EMTbrochure.pdf
NSTAR: http://www.nstaronline.com/
KEYSPAN: http://www.keyspanenergy.com/