Hubbardston emergency planning committee delays FEMA equipment bid, plans hazard-plan upgrade; EMPG funds set for laptops

TOWN OF HUBBARDSTON — The Town of Hubbardston Local Emergency Planning Committee agreed to delay pursuing a FEMA equipment grant this year and instead work on upgrading its hazard mitigation plan so the town will be eligible for larger state and federal grants, a committee staff member said.

The decision follows advice from Ray Farren of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, who recommended seeking a planning grant rather than applying immediately for equipment such as a generator. "He said that what we have done in last year is fine as a local, hazard mitigation plan. But if we wanted to go for grants, then we really need to upgrade that plan," the staff member said. The committee said an upgraded, more detailed hazard mitigation plan is usually required for FEMA approval.

Why it matters: FEMA and related state grants typically require an updated, detailed hazard mitigation plan before awarding larger recovery or resilience funds. Committee members said applying without that update would be unlikely to succeed; upgrading the plan would also allow the town to seek future equipment funding.

The committee reported difficulty completing an online pre-application because the town must provide a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov before it can…