Emergency Management Agency

ema

The Massachusetts Civil Defense Act requires all municipalities to appoint an Emergency Management Director (EMD) who in turn establishes an Emergency Management program.  The program is designed to help ensure effective emergency services within the town for large scale emergencies or disasters, and operates under a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.  The plan is developed by a Local Emergency Planning Committee chaired by the EMD and approved by the Town Administrator and Board of Selectmen.  The EMD is responsible to maintain the plan as well as activate and manage the Emergency Operations Center.

On a day to day basis, the EMD works with the heads of Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, Communications, Board of Health, DPW and Council on Aging to coordinate major emergency event planning for the town.  This can also include public awareness and education, community outreach, resource management, manpower deployment, mutual aid agreements and coordination with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the American Red Cross and other statewide resources.  MEMA coordinates state level emergency operations and can come to the town’s aid in the event of a disaster.  They also serve as a conduit for resources from other jurisdictions and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  MEMA plays a key role in coordinating recovery assistance programs issued by FEMA under presidential disaster declarations. 

In its capacity, Pepperell’s Emergency Management Agency oversees four other critical functions:

  • Emergency Shelter Operations
  • The Auxiliary Police
  • The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
  • The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES)
Details on each of these functions are described further on in this site.

Contact Information for all aspects of Pepperell’s Emergency Management Agency



David Querze, Director
Town Hall, One Main Street
Pepperell, MA 01463-1644
Tel: 978-433-2424 / Fax: 978-433-0335
Email: emd@town.pepperell.ma.us