Preparedness and Safety Information

Emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere!

Ask yourself if you are... Am I ready for a disaster? Am I ready for extreme weather? Am I ready for power outages?

The importance of being prepared for emergencies lessens their impact on you and your family and if impacted by the event, it helps you through the recovery process. Being prepared with necessary emergency kits and travels bags containing essential supplies, including medicines and personal documentations, you will be able to better face and get though the situation.

On this page you will find information on important contacts to keep on hand, links to relevant agencies, downloadable preparedness documents to assist with preparation and other helpful recommendations.

Safety and preparedness tips for extreme cold: mass.gov/info-details/extreme-cold-safety-tips
Winter storm preparedness and safety information: mass.gov/info-details/winter-storm-safety-tips
Safe winter driving tips: mass.gov/winter-weather-driving
Winter safety tips for pets: mass.gov/service-details/winter-pet-safety-tips
Power Outage Safety Tips: Power outages are short- or long-term loss of electrical power. For more information refer to this link at mass.gov/info-details/power-outage-safety-tips.
Generator Safety: Prevent fires, CO poisoning and electrocution by downloading this document.
Prepare Your Home for Emergencies: Preparing and strengthening your home can not only protect your property during disasters — it can also add value to your home. For more information refer to this link.
Make a Family Emergency Plan: Learn how to make a Family Emergency Plan that addresses the needs of your family and prepares your family to safely evacuate or shelter in place. For more information refer to this link.

More resources and safety tips are available on MEMA's website at Mass.Gov/MEMA.

Suggested "Emergency Kit Checklist". This document is provided by MEMA and is available to be downloaded as a suggested list for your use to prepare your emergency kit.

If you are not signed up to be notified of emergencies or other important town related information, consider signing up to be notifies at Ashfield.org/NotifyMe.

For ALL police, fire, medical and any other emergencies CALL 911 using any mobile or landline phone.

DO NOT CALL the police or fire stations before calling 911 since they are not always staffed even during working hours.

If you cannot call 911 then TEXT 911 on your mobile phone.

For information on how to use TEXT to 9-1-1 in emergencies refer to this link, Additionally, you may download this TEXT to 9-1-1 FAQ document to have on hand offline.

Disability Indicator

If you have a disability and landline telephone service, you may qualify to have a unique code appear during 9-1-1 calls to indicate to emergency services that you may require special assistance.

The Massachusetts Disability Indicator Program offers a free, voluntary service that alerts 9-1-1 personnel that an individual with a disability lives in the home and may have unique safety, communications or other needs in case of an emergency. This service is available for landline telephone service subscribers only. It is necessary to request the service through completion of the Disability Indicator Form (PDF).

When 9-1-1 is dialed from a landline telephone, the 9-1-1 system automatically displays the caller’s name, address, and telephone number on the call taker’s screen. The information provided on the Disability Indicator Form enables a special code to appear on the call taker’s screen that alerts the call taker that a person residing at that address may require special assistance during an emergency. The information provided will only appear on the call taker’s screen when a 9-1-1 call originates from the address on the form.

In Ashfield it is necessary to submit the Disability Indicator Form to the Police Department. Once it is submitted to the police department, the police chief (or designee) signs and submits the form to the 9-1-1 service provider for entry into the 9-1-1 location database. The police department will retain the original form for its records and for use with annual verification of the database. If the Disability Indicator Form is not completed properly, the information will not be entered into the 9-1-1 system.

PLEASE NOTE: IT IS IMPORTANT TO SUBMIT A NEW DISABILITY INDICATOR FORM UPON CHANGE OF SERVICE PROVIDER, TELEPHONE NUMBER, OR ADDRESS, OR TO ADD OR DELETE A DISABILITY, OR TO ADD A NEW RESIDENT WITH DISABILITY.

Mass 2-1-1

Need help and don't know where to turn? Mass 2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that connects callers to information about critical health and human services available in their community. It serves as a resource for finding government benefits and services, nonprofit organizations, support groups, volunteer opportunities, donation programs, and other local resources. Always a confidential call, Mass 2-1-1 maintains the integrity of the 9-1-1 system saving that vital community resource for life and death emergencies.

It is a free statewide confidential information and referral help line and it is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is an easy way to find or give help in your community.

For more details on Mass 2-1-1 refer to this link at mass211.org.

Preparedness and Safety Information

Disability Indicator

Mass 2-1-1

ReQuipment

Helpful Links