Explanation of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan

By:  Fire Chief Kevin Nord, Emergency Management Director

In 1983 Governor Michael Dukakis handed down Executive Order 242 which in part stated that “every community across the Commonwealth is exposed to multiple hazards, all of which have the potential to disrupt the community, damage property and cause loss of life.” Some of the hazards listed in Governor Dukakis’s Executive Order include technological and man-made hazards caused by the production, transportation, use and disposal of chemicals, radioactive materials and fuels; urban fires; nuclear power plant accidents; natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, drought, blizzards, extreme cold, and sea surges among other things.

In order to be prepared for such emergencies, each Town in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) developed in conjunction with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). The CEMP provides the foundation and guidance for emergency management, it outlines a program for planning, response and recovery to potential emergencies and disasters and assigns responsibilities and functions to town departments, providing for the safety and welfare of its citizens and the continuity of essential services during an emergency.

Duxbury’s CEMP was originally created in 1998. The plan is administered by the Town’s Emergency Management Director, under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, copies of the plan are found in the Selectmen’s Office, Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Public Works and the School Department with each department being familiar with their role during an emergency.

Duxbury’s CEMP includes but is not limited to the following emergencies: Civil Disturbance, Dam Failure, Earthquakes, Flooding, Hurricanes, Radiological Emergencies, Terrorism, Tornado, Winter Storms (Blizzards) and Hazardous Materials.

Duxbury’s Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is currently working with Duxbury Board of Health to add the latest component, which is an Infectious Disease Plan. The Infectious Disease Plan will incorporate emergencies such as a flu pandemic or bioterrorism threat or attack.