Mystic REPC - Member Training

October 27, 2026

On October 27, 2026, the REPC will host a tabletop training exercise with emphasis on the role of public health and communications during an emergency. The inspiration for the exercise is a recent hazardous materials incident that took place at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, CA on May 21, 2026. A leak in a 7,000-gallon tank of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) triggered an uncontrolled polymerization reaction forcing the evacuation of approximately 50,000 residents in 4 communities. The emergency phase of the event lasted a week.

The focus of this exercise will be on hazard communication at the community level and the sharing of information between response agencies, the municipality, and the public, as well as the responsibilities of public health partners during a hazardous material event. Representatives of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and local health officials will be in attendance to provide information and help guide the discussion. Though large events like this occur very infrequently, the communication skills, coordination, and public-health response may be required in all types of emergencies.

Register by October 16

If you are interested in attending, please register by October 16.

Event details

October 27, 2026
8 a.m. coffee and registration, 8:30 meeting start
12:00 p.m. adjournment
Municipal Police Training facility
425 Walnut St., Lynnfield, MA 01940

View from the back of a large lecture hall with a man presenting by two large screens

Training

The Mystic REPC has created an extensive CAMEO database for our member communities that includes Tier-2 facility and special-location records to assist in planning and response. If you community needs additional information about your CAMEO database, contact Chair Mike Castro.

CAMEO Training October 6, 2026

On October 6, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., join Chair Mike Castro and Vice Chair Allan Alpert for CAMEO basics. If you are unsure how to load your 2026 Tier II data, still need to pick up your thumb drive, or need a refresher on the CAMEO suite, please stop by. You will need to bring a laptop on which you have administrative rights to use a USB device. The session will be in the community room at the Public Safety Building, located at 1 Union Street in Wakefield. If you have any questions, contact Mike Castro.

Recent Meetings

At our May 19, 2026, meeting, attendees heard fantastic presentations from Wilmington Fire Chief William Cavanaugh and North Reading Lieutenant Jonathan Burt, who reviewed a recent Tier 3 response; Yazoo County Emergency Management Director Jack Willingham, who reviewed the 2025 CF Industries explosion; and Chair Michael Castro, who reviewed the process for reviewing Tier II Hazardous Chemical Inventory reports. View the slide deck from the May 2026 meeting.

Additional Resources

FEMA's national preparedness platform allows users to search for courses provided or managed by FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), Emergency Management Institute (EMI), and National Training and Education Division (NTED).
The U.S. Fire Administration recently released an online, self-study training on Energy Storage Systems (Q0757). The organization notes that this course will teach students to, “recognize energy storage system (ESS) concepts and principles so you can analyze the hazards involved with ESS incidents.”