Massachusetts

First responders look back on 2011 tornado 11 years later

Published

2 years ago

June 2, 2022

Press Room

First responders look back on 2011 tornado 11 years later

WORCESTER COUNTY, Mass. – June 1 marks 11 years since a strong twister tore by Central and Western Massachusetts.

The EF-3 twister killed three individuals and injured many extra and prompted over $100 million price of harm.

Sturbridge was amongst one of many hardest hit cities, and police Chief Earl Dessert remembers June 1, 2011 properly.

“Effectively, I used to be a reasonably newly promoted sergeant and I bear in mind my chief calling me on the time saying ‘Hey, there’s a twister in Springfield. Would you like me to move again?” Chief Dessert stated. “I stated ‘Twister, chief? Come on, I’ve obtained this underneath management.’ He stated ‘Okay, I believe I’ll take a journey again in any case.’ And I used to be very grateful he did take a journey again.”

It proved to be an all palms on deck mission when the twister hit. Photographs of the aftermath present downed timber, indicators and energy traces all throughout city. Barbara Boiteau, a dispatcher on the time, went into work instantly when she noticed the twister warning.

“You possibly can all the time be skilled for that, however in the case of the purpose, you simply go along with it, go along with the motion and the circulate of the calls,” Boiteau stated.

Previous to the warning, there was skepticism the twister would show to be a lot of something.

“On the time, lots of people didn’t consider it {that a} twister was truly coming by the city,” stated Lt. Joseph Lombardi. “I believe it was in Springfield on the time, and that’s once we thought ‘Wow, that is actually coming our approach.’”

For the Sturbridge Police Division, the aftermath prolonged past cleanup. Scammers took benefit of the state of affairs.

“Being within the occupation so long as I’ve been, I wasn’t shocked there was individuals on the market making an attempt to earn a living off this tragedy, as a result of I’ve seen it all through my profession with completely different tragedies,” Chief Dessert stated. “It was nonetheless alarming to me that individuals could be out making an attempt to benefit from older individuals, making an attempt to take cash from them, providing providers, asking for pay up entrance, not doing the providers, and issues like that.”

Nonetheless, the sharpest reminiscences are ones of unity, each amongst residents of the city and close by neighbors.

“We noticed an outpouring of help from our neighboring group of Southbridge, the proprietor of eating places bringing in meals to the general public security advanced, ensuring firefighters and cops and all first responders had been taken care of when it got here to meals and water,” Chief Dessert stated. “Whereas they had been doing this for us, on the identical time, we had been doing it for the group.”

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Massachusetts

EEE is still a threat in Massachusetts, horse tests positive: ‘People shouldn’t let their guard down’

Published

1 hour ago

September 28, 2024

Press Room

EEE is still a threat in Massachusetts, horse tests positive: ‘People shouldn’t let their guard down’

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

With October only a few days away, EEE remains a threat in the Bay State.

That’s the message from health officials after another horse in Massachusetts tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

Four people in the state have been infected with the rare but serious and potentially fatal disease during this busy year of mosquito-borne illnesses. A man in New Hampshire died from EEE.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Thursday announced a third confirmed case of EEE in a horse this year. The horse was exposed to EEE in Carver, an area in Plymouth County that’s already at high risk for EEE.

“This latest animal case of EEE confirms that even this late in the season, the risk for spread of EEE virus from infected mosquitoes is still present,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein.

“With more people going outside to enjoy the mild fall weather, we continue to recommend that residents take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites until the first hard frost,” Goldstein added.

There have been 96 EEE-positive mosquito samples in Massachusetts this year.

Infected mosquitoes have been found in Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Norfolk, Middlesex, Plymouth, and Worcester counties.

EEE is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The last outbreak of EEE in Massachusetts occurred in 2019–2020, and resulted in 17 human cases with seven deaths, and nine animal cases.

There were no human or animal cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2021, 2022, or 2023.

“Cooler temperatures will start to reduce mosquito activity, but people shouldn’t let their guard down yet,” said State Epidemiologist Catherine Brown. “We continue to strongly advise that everyone in areas at high and critical risk for EEE reschedule evening outdoor activities to avoid peak mosquito biting hours.”

DPH continues to urge people to use bug spray, and to wear long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors.

2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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EEE is still a threat in Massachusetts, horse tests positive: ‘People shouldn’t let their guard down’ (2024, September 28)
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Massachusetts

111 Lake Shore Drive, East Falmouth, MA 02536 – For Sale

Published

9 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Press Room

111 Lake Shore Drive, East Falmouth, MA 02536 – For Sale

Heating System: Forced Air

Cooling System: Central Air

Basement: Finished, Full, Interior Entry, Walk-out Access

Patio: Deck

Parking: 6

Appliances: Gas Water Heater, Dishwasher, Dryer – Electric, Microwave, Refrigerator, Washer, Gas Range, Tankless Water Heater

Community Features: Common Area, Playground

Door Features: Sliding

Exterior Features: Garden

Flooring: Tile, Carpet, Hardwood

Garage Spaces2

Interior Features: Linen Closet

Laundry Features: Electric Dryer Hookup, Laundry Room, First Floor

Lot Features: Major Highway, Views, Conservation Area, Near Golf Course, House Of Worship, Medical Facility, School, Shopping, Gentle Sloping, Interior Lot, Level, Cleared

Parking Features: Paved, Driveway, Off Street

Roof: Metal

Sewer: Septic Tank

Spa Features: Heated, Private

WaterfrontYes

WaterviewLake/Pond

Miles to Beaches0 – .1

Waterfront Features: Pond

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Massachusetts

New Massachusetts bill would reinstate commercial driver’s licenses for hundreds of drivers

Published

19 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

New Massachusetts bill would reinstate commercial driver’s licenses for hundreds of drivers

Hundreds of commercial drivers in Massachusetts could get licenses back if new bill passes

02:15

BOSTON – Relief may be on the way for hundreds of truck and bus drivers in Massachusetts, who lost their commercial driver’s licenses due to violations from decades ago.

Nearly 500 licenses revoked

Weeks ago, the I-Team uncovered that Registry of Motor Vehicles revoked the commercial driver’s licenses of nearly 500 drivers, effectively putting them out of work. Mike McDonald is one of the hundreds of commercial drivers that got caught up in the RMV dragnet. McDonald said losing his license means he can’t work and has no income coming in. He has been a truck driver for Ground Effects Landscaping in Carver for 17 years.

Until recently, the RMV had not fully enforced Melanie’s Law, which prohibits anyone charged with repeat drunk driving, refusing to take a breathalyzer or leaving the scene crashes from holding a commercial driver’s license, no matter how long ago the violations may have been. The law had been on the books for nearly 15 years.

It wasn’t until 2019 when a truck driver whose license should have been suspended was involved in a New Hampshire crash that killed seven members of a Marine motorcycle club. Since then, hundreds of drivers like McDonald have had their licenses and their livelihoods taken away.

10-year limit proposed

Now the I-Team has learned that the legislature is taking action with a new bill that would limit the look back period to 10 years, the same as the federal law. If it passes, it would allow drivers with clean records and no violations during the last decade to keep their licenses and their jobs.

Attorney Brian Simoneau represents dozens of drivers like McDonald. He told the I-Team, “What I’m hoping is the registry got the message loud and clear that this is outrageous and egregious and it’s a case of the punishment not fitting the crime. I’m hoping that this may pressure the registry now into delaying these disqualifications to give the legislature some more time to act because they can see that there is a huge strong interest in fixing this problem.”

All of this could happen quickly. If no one in the legislature objects to the bill it would pass quickly and move to the governor’s desk. If she signs it, the law would into effect immediately.

Cheryl Fiandaca