Winter Weather Preparations for the UMV MRC

This is the time of year when our region is exposed frequently to winter weather advisories. Area residents areoftenurgedto take precautions in case of snow, ice, major storms, and blizzards. The many hazards include slick roads and walkways, downed trees and electrical wires, limited visibility, and protracted phone and power outages. The impact is especially treacherous for those who are already vulnerable.

Here are some thingsthat our members need to know, to keep themselves and their communities saferthisseason.

Call-Out Protocols: Your unit’s Director and Coordinator are briefed continually on the status of weather emergencies and the potential need for volunteers. As emphasized in our unit’s Standard Operating Procedures, NEVER self-deploy!!!

-If there is no indication that a call-out is warranted, MRC staff refrains from sending unnecessary communications to our busy volunteers.

-If there’s a chance our unit will be asked to respond, we may send an e-mail to our entire distribution list, asking volunteers to reply with their ‘standby’ availability.

  • If the storm passes without incident, we send another message to say so.
  • If there IS a call-out, we schedule and activate members as appropriate throughout the deployment.
  • If only a small number of members with discrete skills are needed, MRC leaders may contact only a few volunteers individually.

Be aware that MRC leaders interact regularly with counterparts from multiple agencies, supporting larger efforts to provide the greatest good for the greatest number.

Personal Preparedness: Make sure that you and your loved ones will be safe by taking reasonable precautions. Our unit provides starter 72-hour kitsfor the public at-cost, along with instructions on how people can make their own kits.We also encourage members to review winter storm safety and preparedness guidelines on MEMA’s website:

Weather Information:For updated forecasts, see (National Weather Service Taunton) and (National Weather Service Albany). Massachusetts Alerts is a free appthat is available for Android and iPhones.To learn more about this app and how to download it onto your smartphone, visit:

Power Outages:MEMA’s real-time power outage viewer lets you stay informed about current power outages in your community and region, and across the state, including information from utility companies about restoration times: