Massachusetts deploys personnel to assist in Puerto Rico recovery efforts

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) today announced that four public safety personnel from Massachusetts will be deploying to Puerto Rico to assist in hurricane recovery efforts.

“We are proud of these state and municipal employees headed to Puerto Rico to assist in the recovery process after recent hurricanes devastated the island,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The Commonwealth continues to offer personnel and resources to support our neighbors recovering from major disasters in Puerto Rico and across the nation.”

Mike Cawley from MEMA and George Rose from the Lowell Fire Department deployed on November 8th to join FEMA’s State Volunteer Surge Program. This program was recently established by FEMA to bolster its disaster workforce by using state and municipal employees, under FEMA’s supervision, to deliver federal disaster support to survivors and communities.

The employees will go through a FEMA training program and will be assigned to support federal disaster recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. Currently there are five other state and municipal employees from Massachusetts detailed to FEMA under this program; four of them are in Puerto Rico and the fifth is in Florida.

“The deployment of these public safety personnel from Massachusetts will assist Puerto Rico and FEMA with the coordination of disaster relief efforts,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We continue to take steps to assist those impacted by the recent disasters and we urge everyone looking to help to support disaster relief operations through cash donations to organizations listed on the state’s website.”

MEMA continues to monitor the EMAC system and look for opportunities to offer personnel, equipment and resources to Puerto Rico and other areas impacted by recent disasters.