The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Emergency Management Department (MWT EMD) encourages our Tribal Community to participate in national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day along with many Local communities who join the effort to reduce wildfire risk across the country on May 5, 2018
The MWT EMD is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm for the fifth annual Wildfire Community Preparedness Day event on May 5, 2018, which helps communities prepare for and work together to reduce their risk of wildfire damage.
Wildfire Preparedness Day is a call to action that gives people of all ages a chance to plan and participate in a risk reduction or wildfire preparedness activity that makes their community a safer place to live. Continued drought and hotter temperatures are major contributors to the increased wildfire activity, we believe Preparedness Day is a great way to raise awareness of this important issue.
Community Preparedness Projects undertaken on Preparedness Day can range from a short time commitment up to an entire day. Below are actions our tribal citizens can take to reduce the risk of home and property becoming fuel for a wildfire:
- Rake and remove pine needles and dry leaves within a minimum of 3 to 5 feet of a home’s foundation. As time permits – continue up to a 30-foot distance around the home. Dispose of collected debris in appropriate trash receptacles.
- Collect downed tree limbs and broken branches and take them to a disposal site.
- Help our Tribal elders or a neighbor enter emergency numbers and the names of close relatives into their cell phones; and in large font post their phone number and street address above their landline so it can easily be seen when providing information to an emergency dispatcher.
For additional preparedness information or tips, please contact: Emergency Management Director, Nelson.AndrewsJr@mwtribe-nsn.gov (508) 477-5800 Ext 15 or Emergency Preparedness Specialist, Allyssa.Hathaway@mwtribe-nsn.gov (508) 477-5800 Ext 13
