State Report: Unified Command Would Have Helped In Gas Crisis

ANDOVER, MA — A state report published Monday found that a unified command/coordination structure would have improved the response to the deadly Sept. 2018 Merrimack Valley gas explosions. The report, written by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the Massachusetts National Guard, found that while local response worked well during initial response, a joint command post would've helped as the operations expanded. The explosions killed one, injured 25 and destroyed or damaged more than 130 structures.

A number of the report's findings involve communications problems during the incident, which a unified command structure might have helped with.

"Locally led incident command structures and processes worked well during the initial response to this incident," the report reads. "As operations expanded in scope and scale, information sharing, coordinated situational awareness, and enhanced planning may have been better supported through a deliberate implementation of a Unified Command/Coordination Structure."

Many of the highest priority recommendations also involve communications: agencies should ensure they have, and can access easily, interoperable radio channels; the state should have a "formal Communications Program" to ensure mutual aid plans have local "communications unit leaders"; the state should have agreements in place for translation services during crises; and the state should work with gas utilities to "determine the information types that are reasonable to provide" during emergencies.

The report also recommends that recovery efforts include "all key stakeholders" and include more consideration for people with disabilities or other access needs.

The full report is available here.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.