INTRODUCTION
The City of Gloucester has been actively planning for any and all eventualities relating to major disasters. This plan was  established in response to Y2K concerns for the public safety, health, and welfare of City residents and visitors should a major disruption of power and/or telecommunications occur. The plan is based on a worst case scenario that all telecommunications (i.e., telephone service, cellular service, etc.) and/or electrical power are lost. It was recognized during the planning process that the City plan could and should be used for any major disaster such as the ice storms of 1998 over the northeast USA and Canada, or an earthquake such as Turkey and Taiwan suffered in 1999. Thus, this basic contingency plan will be used to guide the City's response to any major disaster that may strike. This plan parallels, and is intended to support, the City's Comprehensive Emergency Management (CEM) Plan. The CEM Plan is a detailed all hazards plan that is developed by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). The State formats each community's plan in the same layout for ease of reference no matter what disaster occurs. The information in each plan is unique to the community. It is our goal to link this basic plan to the information in the CEM for all residents to access as a resource to be prepared for and during a disaster. By using links to related web sites, such as the American Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency, residents will have access to disaster preparedness and disaster response information prior to and during a disaster. The ultimate goal is to make Gloucester a disaster resistance community that can react quickly , in a united, and planned way no matter what disaster confronts us.  We are actively seeking input and support from the community to be ready to overcome any disruptions that may occur during a major disaster.

CITY RESPONSE
During any major disaster the City Department Heads and Mayor meet immediately at a secure Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Each City Department Head has identified three personnel deep to participate in the EOC and coordinate their department's emergency actions. The Police, Fire, and Public Works Departments have developed a detailed readiness and operational plan that parallel this plan. Should a disaster occur, the several City agencies, including the School Department, and volunteer groups (examples: the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association, Gloucester Red Cross, etc.) will immediately go to work based on pre-planned efforts. As an example, the Red Cross, working with the School Department, will prepare and open a shelter at the Fuller School as detailed in the shelter section below. The Amateur Radio Association will make radio contact with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to advise them of our disruptions and seek State and Federal resources as needed. A draft Declaration of Emergency (Appendix A) is ready for the Mayor's signature to enable all City Departments and resources to be used to protect the public safety, health, and welfare.

PERSONAL & FAMILY PREPAREDNESS
The City supports and wants to reinforce the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Red Cross recommendations for personal and family preparedness. The Publications in Appendix B advise that residents must prepare as if for survival through a long term loss of utilities during a major winter storm. The potential for power and communications disruptions exists in any disaster. The immediate needs for flashlights, a portable radio, and extra batteries are noted. Warm clothing, safe auxiliary heat sources for your home, and a knowledge of the City's shelter at Fuller School are important. The City's water and sewer systems will be functional as diesel generators provide power to our pumping stations and sewer plant if power fails. Plans are being made to assure a fuel supply for these generators will be available to indefinitely operate these and other critical services. Should the water supply be disrupted, as by freezing pipes in homes, a supply of portable water is recommended in each home. A small reserve of cash is also recommended. Fire safety is more important in a disaster, especially if telecommunications are lost. All homes must have functioning smoke detectors. Carbon monoxide (CO) can become an increased hazard and detectors are recommended in each home. CO can be given off from generators, vehicles running in garages or near doors, gas grilles, or charcoal grilles. Vehicles should not be left running in garages or near doors. Gas or charcoal grilles should never be brought inside buildings. The use of safe auxiliary heating sources, such as properly installed and maintained wood or coal stoves are recommended. The use of kerosene space heaters are illegal in Massachusetts due to the burn and fire hazard experience this State has documented. Candles have contributed to numerous home fires, many involving injuries and deaths, over the past several years. These tragedies are in large part due to the public's inexperience with open flame devices. We recommend battery powered emergency lights or chemical light sticks as safe alternatives to candles. If candles or similar open flame devices (ex. oil lamps) are used, the knowledge of and adherence to strict safety precautions is necessary. The precautions include keeping combustibles, such as table clothes, paper, and curtains away from the candles. Stay in the room where candles are lit. Keep children and pets away from the candles. Snuff any candle or oil lamp before falling asleep. Most importantly, use candles that will not tip over, are contained or surrounded by non combustible surfaces (i.e., glass, ceramics, etc.), and maintain at least a one foot "circle of safety" around the candle or open flame device. By planning ahead and being prepared with extra food, water and essentials, we are encouraging a basic level of preparedness be undertaken by each person and family so you are disaster resistant.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
The research and reports on disasters around the country have highlighted the fact that during a disaster your best immediate support should come from family, friends, and neighbors. Government cannot handle all the needs for all people immediately. City agencies will be focused on providing emergency police, fire, and ambulance services, as well as water, sewer, and road/City building maintenance services. We may be overwhelmed with requests for help and will be prioritizing projects (example: evacuating a elderly housing project to the City shelter) and our resources 24 hours a day. The reports on disasters highlight that the best help people receive comes from relatives, friends, and neighbors. The City encourages neighbors to reach out and offer help to neighbors. If you have a portable generator or wood stove, your hospitality to neighbors may save a life. Simple acts of kindness, such as checking on an elderly neighbor, or a person with medical needs, may save a life. Neighbors may be skilled professional workers, (examples: plumbers, electricians, nurses, doctors, EMTs, paramedics, etc.) who can give advice and often will pitch in to help resolve problems. This extends to the bigger community in that special skilled workers, such as plumbers, electricians and carpenters, will be needed to help prevent frozen pipes in homes, hook up generators, or set up temporary housing.  Gloucesterites have rallied to help neighbors, friends, and families through prior disasters. City officials are counting on "the community" (i.e., City employees, businesses, and residents) help, as seen around the country during disasters, to meet the demands for services and help.

EMERGENCY STAFFING
Both the Police and Fire Departments have planned for and instructed our off-duty personnel on an automatic, mandatory, personnel callback system should a disruption disable telephone communications and/or cause a loss of electricity. Although not always obvious, public safety personnel have family responsibilities that must be handled also. Thus, extra personnel on duty will allow for these responsibilities to be handled without compromising on-duty staffing levels for emergency responses

COMMUNICATIONS WITH POLICE, FIRE & AMBULANCES FOR EMERGENCIES
This plan is based on the unlikely loss of all telecommunications. The Police and Fire Departments are urging the public not to test the telephone system, especially test calls to 911, during any disaster. The potential exists that dial tones may be delayed as many people test their phone and call friends or family. If an emergency occurs and the dial tone is not available after several seconds, try a neighbor's phone. Should a cellular phone be available, try calling 283-1212 (Police Headquarters) or 283-2424 (Fire Headquarters). Cellular phones calling 911 are routed to the State Police which may delay direct contact to Gloucester's emergency services. Should telephone communications be lost, the public may only be able to contact emergency services by the following methods:
 

SHELTERS
The Gloucester/Essex Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Gloucester Public Schools have pre-planned for shelters to open at 4:00 PM on the day following any disruption of electricity and/or telecommunications. The Fuller School, off Route 128 at the Blackburn Circle, is the primary City shelter with an emergency generator for power. The need to seek shelter should be a last resort after exhausting shelter alternatives with family, neighbors, friends, or hotels/motels with power. Shelters provide a warm safe place to stay but lack the comforts of home. Although the Red Cross has expertise in shelter management, they depend on those coming to the shelter to be prepared by bringing a number of items. Appendix E provides guidelines for those seeking shelter concerning items to bring and not bring. The City, School Department, and Red Cross have planned for shelters during disasters. We have opened shelters in the past. We feel confident that we can provide a warm, safe place to take refuge if all else fails for you. We do need your active preparation by coming with items such as medications, food, hygiene products, extra clothing, blankets or sleeping bags, pillows, and a willingness to pitch in and help

SCAM WARNINGS
During all disasters, unfortunately, there are always criminals ready to prey on the misfortune of others. The public must be ready to say no to offers to help hold money or provide services without a thorough background check on the person offering help. If a person or caller offers services or to "make your money safe", do not participate without consulting family, friends, the State Attorney General, or local police. Even after natural disaster, such as hurricanes, scam artists offer repairs, equipment and/or supplies for cash before delivery. Never pay for services or supplies before receiving them. The old adages, "buyer beware" and " if it sounds to good to be true it probably is" always apply.

COMMUNITY REVIEW AND FEEDBACK
It is the City's intent to continue the planning process and educate the citizenry of Gloucester concerning disaster prevention, preparedness, and response to make Gloucester a more disaster resistant community. Our experiences have proved Gloucester residents are resilient, ingenious, and able to take care of family, friends, and neighbors when disasters strike. The practice of neighbor helping neighbor is the best immediate response to any disaster. Reach out and offer help; it might be the most rewarding experience of your life or at least the neighborhood will be a friendlier place. The practice of neighbor helping neighbor, and the cooperation of "the community", to provide help overcoming the disaster, have been the primary lessons learned in disasters around the country. We encourage residents to review this plan, prepare as recommended by the Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and work with City officials to respond if a disaster occurs. To this end, feedback on this plan, preferably in writing, is encouraged. It can be mailed or dropped off to Mayor Bruce Tobey at City Hall or Fire Chief Barry McKay at Fire Headquarters. We want a realistic, workable disaster plan that you will have confidence we can make happen in Gloucester during any disaster.
 

LIST OF ITEMS TO BRING TO A SHELTER
1. Medications such as prescriptions, aspirin, antacids, diarrhea medication, cough, cold, and flu medications, etc..
2. Canned or packaged foods, snacks, special diet foods, baby foods, baby formulas and bottles for infants, and enough water or other liquids to last several days.
3. Wear warm, comfortable clothes and shoes. A change of clothing and shoes will be helpful.
4. Books, a deck of cards, age appropriate games or handheld video games (with earphones or the ability to turn off the sound), to provide entertainment especially for your children.
5. Blankets or sleeping bags, and a pillow for each family member for sleeping accommodations.
6. Battery powered TV, radio, cassette player, or CD player, all with earphones, to allow private listening. don't forget extra batteries. Loud or annoying music or noise that disturbs others in the shelter will not be tolerated.
7. Health care and sanitary needs (examples: diapers for infants, preferably disposables, toothbrush & tooth paste, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, etc.) to meet your needs and assure hygiene is maintained.
8. Courteous demeanor and attitude. Shelters can become noisy and occasionally a person may make others uncomfortable. Consideration for others is paramount.
9. Identification (a picture ID is preferred).}

ITEMS NOT ALLOWED IN A SHELTER
1. Weapons of any kind.
2. Pets. Seeing eye dogs are an exception. (Remember to leave food and water for your pets at home).
3. Smoking - a location outside the shelter will be designated if a person must smoke although smoking is discouraged.
4. Alcoholic beverages of any kind or controlled drugs without aprescription.

NOTE: Remember to exhaust every resource prior to using the shelter. Be willing to step forward, pitch in, and lend a hand in the shelter if necessary or as requested.

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