[MassHistPres] Preservation Assistance for Tornado AffectedCommunities

[heartwood restoration]

thank you erin, michele and other pm massachusetts members for your efforts!  

a friend of mine who lives in springfield shared photos of houses being demolished a couple of days after the storm...NOTHING in these particular houses was saved, just bulldozed and wrecking balled to a pile of rubble...

....jade

jade mortimer
heartwood window restoration
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Erin Kelly 
  To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu 
  Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 12:43 PM
  Subject: [MassHistPres] Preservation Assistance for Tornado AffectedCommunities


  Good Aftenoon,

  On behalf of Preservation Massachusetts, we wanted to update our preservation colleagues and partners about the ongoing efforts to bring preservation assistance to the towns affected by last week's devastating tornadoes. Many towns, including Monson and Springfield, sustained incredible that included many historic resources and structures.  

  Since the tornadoes, Preservation Massachusetts and our Western Mass Circuit Rider Michele Barker have been trying to gather information on damage, needs and what resources exist to help these communities.  On Tuesday we convened our statewide preservation coalition and a group of state and federal agencies on a conference call to discuss how to aid these affected communities in relief efforts.  It was clear that there is a great need to assess the extent of damage to their historic resources and slowing down the rush to demolish buildings before they are properly assessed and evaluated. 


  Before FEMA and other federal initiatives can be mobilized, the state needs to know exactly how much damage has been done in order to reach a certain threshold that will then allow the Governor to petition the President for a disaster declaration. Once a disaster declaration is in place, federal resources and aid can then begin to flow into these communities. 



  As a result of the meeting, Preservation Massachusetts has committed to assisting these communities with assessing and evaluating the damage incurred to their historic buildings, resources, museum collections, etc. Many of these towns do not have the expertise to evaluate damaged historic structures or even know where to begin in the process.   We have begun a "call for expert volunteers" willing to help communities assess the damage to their historic resources, as well as connecting with town boards and others in cautioning against a rush to demolition of damaged historic buildings before they are evaluated or a disaster declaration is issued.  MEMA has issued a statement to this extent as well.   



  Our organization is in close communication with other disaster and emergency management agencies (including MEMA, COSTEP, FEMA) and other preservation organizations (Massachusetts Historical Commission, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Springfield Preservation Trust, etc.) and hope to have some coordinated assistance efforst in the field as soon as possible.  





  PM will remain dedicated to working with the affected communities through our main office and our Western MA. circuit rider.  We will also be posting relevant updates and links to pertiant information (possible sources of funding, ways you can help, etc.)  on our website and will continue to be a conduit for critial information for the affeceted communities throughout the comming days and weeks as the efforts to evaluate and eventually, rebuild and restore, get underway. 



  Please visit our website (www.preservationmass.org) for contact information or to find ways you can help.



  Thank you very much.





  -- 


  Erin D.A. Kelly
  Assistant Director
  Preservation Massachusetts
  Old City Hall, 45 School Street
  Boston, MA 02108
  617-723-3383

  Visit Preservation Massachusetts online! 
  www.preservationmass.org

   





  -- 

  Erin D.A. Kelly
  Assistant Director
  Preservation Massachusetts
  Old City Hall, 45 School Street
  Boston, MA 02108
  617-723-3383

  Visit Preservation Massachusetts online! 
  www.preservationmass.org

   




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