City of New Bedford
Office of the Mayor
Contact: Elizabeth Treadup
(508) 979-1410
Elizabeth.Treadup@ci.new-bedford.ma.us
Date: October 03, 2007
For Immediate Release
City of New Bedford
Scott W. Lang, Mayor
PRESS RELEASE
New Bedford Area Responders Participate in
Emergency Preparedness Training Exercise
New Bedford, Massachusetts- Greater New Bedford area first responders, government
officials, non-governmental agencies and health care professionals participated today in a
disaster preparedness exercise sponsored by the New Bedford Mayor’s Office and the
Bristol County Sheriff’s Office. The “tabletop exercise” allowed local area responders
to train, prepare, practice, and coordinate existing response plans and procedures in
advance of a true disaster situation. The exercise dubbed “New Bedford Outbreak” was
an opportunity for public safety officials to utilize the incident command system while
making critical response decisions involving resource allocation and management.
Mayor Scott W. Lang praised every individual and agency involved in the training
exercise. “This exercise is a truly a collaborative effort, and demonstrates the City of
New Bedford’s commitment to the public safety of its residents and neighboring
communities in the event of an emergency, through preparation,” he continued.
The “table top exercise” is a training exercise that presents participants with scenario
materials which describe an emergency incident and brings discussion participants up to
the simulated present time. Participants then apply their knowledge and skills to a list of
problems presented, problems are discussed as a group, and resolution is generally agreed
upon. The table top exercise encourages methodical problem solving through discussion
rather than the rapid, spontaneous decision-making that occurs under actual or simulated
emergency conditions.
Southcoast Hospitals was represented by members of the safety committee, the
emergency department, laboratory services, infection control, public relations and
administration. William Porcaro, MD, MPH, emergency physician at St. Luke's Hospital,
the New Bedford site for Southcoast Hospitals Group, attended the drill and sits on the
hospital's emergency management team.
"It is a priority for Southcoast Hospitals to actively participate in the community's
planning and training for regional emergency preparedness," Dr. Porcaro said. "The drills
are extremely important for the hospital and the community’s operational readiness and
emergency resources."
Kathleen Stefani, Executive Aide to the Mayor who together with Captain Richard
Torrey of New Bedford Emergency Medical Services initiated plans to conduct this
valuable exercise said, “The federal, state and local agencies were represented by upper
level decision makers who brought a depth of experience and expertise not often seen at
these types of training exercises. Together with our private sector and non-governmental
partners from the communities represented, the exercise offered an opportunity to
exchange ideas, solve problems and build key relationships.”
The following municipalities and agencies participated in this training exercise:
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City of New Bedford
City of Boston Mayor’s Office
Town of Acushnet
Town of Attleboro
Town of Carver
Town of Dartmouth
Town of Fairhaven
Town of Freetown
Town of Marion
Town of Mattapoisett
Town of Norton
Town of Rochester
Town of Worcester
Alert Ambulance Service
American Medical Response
American Red Cross
Bristol County MRC
Collaborative
Boston Emergency Medical
Services
Bristol County Emergency
Planner
Coastline Elderly Services
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Massachusetts Department of
Public Health
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Immigrants Assistance Center
Inter-church Council of Greater
New Bedford
Massachusetts State Police
Massachusetts Office of
Emergency Medical Services
Massachusetts State Police
Massachusetts Department of
Public Health
Office of the Sheriff of Bristol
County
Office of the Bristol County
District Attorney
Plymouth County C-MED
Southcoast Hospitals Group-St.
Luke’s site
Southeastern Massachusetts EMS
Council
Sprint/Nextel
Stat Ambulance
Sturdy Memorial Hospital