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Hubbardston pursues FEMA HMP upgrade, brick grant access and shelter power upgrades
Summary
The committee reported a FEMA hazard-mitigation plan application that would qualify the town for a returned brick grant, discussed hiring consultants to complete the HMP, and selected NV5 to study school solar and generator upgrades to improve shelter readiness.
Committee members said the town has applied to upgrade its Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) to a federal standard and expects approval because the town qualifies as rural; approval would unlock eligibility for a returning 'brick' grant program. The presenter said two consultants—Ray Davis of Patriot Emergency Preparedness Solutions and Jamie Kaplan Consulting—have been identified as possible writers for the federal-level HMP.
Why it matters: A federally approved HMP is often a prerequisite for certain mitigation grants; committee members said returning brick funds could support resilience projects but noted the HMP must meet federal standards before the town can access that program.
The group also reviewed shelter-planning work and contractor selection. Members said they reviewed proposals from two engineering firms and chose NV5 to examine the school for rooftop solar, a generator upgrade and design details. The presenter said a meeting with NV5 was scheduled to discuss scope and design, and members discussed moving the existing school generator or acquiring a higher-capacity unit. During the discussion, one participant said the current school generator is "60 kilowatt," and others clarified the new unit would be sized to run the full school and support sheltering.
The presenter noted expected EMPG funding changes (about $2,700 this year) and that EMPG program rules have changed, limiting how an emergency manager can reallocate funds previously requested by police or fire. The group discussed whether EMPG or other grants could pay for recurring communications costs.
Next steps: staff will confirm HMP award status, return with consultant estimates for completing the federal-level plan, and provide NV5's proposed scope and cost for generator and solar work to inform future grant applications and town budget planning.
