Mass. fire department buys trailers with health grants

By Katina Caraganis
The Sentinel & Enterprise

TOWNSEND, Mass. — The Townsend Fire-EMS Department and the Emergency Management Department will now be able to house important supplies for emergencies all in one place, thanks to the addition of two trailers.

The trailers were funded by two grants secured by the Board of Health.

The first grant was a related to the H1N1 pandemic for about $17,000, according to Fire Chief Donald Klein. The trailer will house various supplies needed if the town, during an emergency such as the 2008 ice storm, had to open an emergency shelter.

"All of the medical supplies and other supplies were stored in different locations around town. It's a big help to put it all together and wherever we need it, we could hook up the trailer and go," said Klein.

The second grant, secured through the Northeast Homeland Security Advisory Council for Massachusetts, was in the amount of $13,000. The town was given a list of supplies the money could buy, with the requirement that the town purchase as much as it could for the amount provided.

Along with the second trailer, which will house hazmat equipment, the town was able to purchase a generator and other supplies needed for an emergency shelter, including blankets, specialty cots, personal care kids, traffic cones and barriers.

Both trailers were on display outside the Town Offices Tuesday night at the Special Town Meeting.

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