Monday October 5, 2010

A cold and rainy Monday night in Southeastern Massachusetts this Monday night. Worked continued on the many projects at SCD. The generator began to be wired into the truck, our red portable power boxes were finished with carrying handles installed, a brainstorming session led to a good way to hang our battery operated strobe lights and we had a going away party for one of our members.

CD members enjoying pizza and beverages in honor of Sal Triolo leaving for Italy. He will be back in 45 days.

This is the working side of the generator panel. We are now retro fitting the old controls for the new generator. This involves removing a "step up" transformer and directly wiring the generator to breakers and the outlets of the truck.

Generator Installed!!

A rainy, windy friday made a great day to finish mounting the generator to the Utility truck. Dir. Polimer and Master Mechanic and Fabricator Traut moved vehicles around in the garage and used our chain hoists to lower the generator into the truck bed.

September 27th 2010

Work continues on many projects at the CD garage. Traut and Polimer continued on the generator install on the Utility truck. Mounts were made to attach the generator to the floor of the truck, and the cold air intake was mounted as well. The generator is now ready to mount to the truck next week.

A portable strobe light was attached to a battery pack. This test was for a new alert system to 1630 AM signs and other signs that would be deployed in an emergency. A mounting box will be used and this project will continue for a few weeks with mock ups and then faberication of 3 units.

In our weekly meeting a few items were discussed. Our annual budget was talked about and Dir. Polimer is meeting with the Selectman to approve the FY12 budget. Our captial budget for this coming year was also discussed. This was a great discussion with all members and it was decided to ask for a few items. The new town wide phone system was talked about with Deputy Zlotin and the group.

Contact Sharon Civil Defense!

We would love any of your questions and comments about our blog, department happenings and general information. Please email our Director, Mike Polimer @ polimermi@gmail.com with your questions.

CD members are always looking to increase our diverse membership. Stop by our HQ on Monday nights at 7 pm. Any other questions can be answered by emailing sharoncd@townofsharon.org.

Monday September 20th, 2010

A busy night again for CD members. Work continues on the generator installation project. New items were received and looked over.



An idea that CD members had a few months ago has started to progress. We looked at getting citizens attention to the "Tune 1630 AM" signs around town during a possible emergency. We decided that using small strobe lights that will be attached during an emergency would be the best option. These strobes are waterproof and will last many hours on a single battery. The first strobe was put on a sign in front of the CD/DPW/PD driveway. We will be installing the rest of the mounting screws around town soon.




Work continued on the generator install. Traut and Dir. Polimer used our extensive metal working equipment to cut sheet steel for an exhaust port.




Sign stands were purchased with federal grant money through Region 4A MRC. This is a great relationship between the Sharon Board of Health and Civil Defense. They were delivered and one was put together. They will be useful for any indoor space.



Also Civil Defense would like to congradulate the Sharon Police Department on their new promotions. Deputy Chief McGrath, Lt. Ford, and Sgt. Brewer.

Live Blog Post, Monday Night

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

LEPC Trailer Overview

Vogenberg next to the stocked LEPC trailer.

A new piece of equipment that Sharon CD members have been outfitting has been our Local Emergency Planning Committee Trailer. This trailer was received by the Town of Sharon with grant money from the Federal Government in 2007. The trailer was then given to CD for outfit. Materials in the trailer are for several possible situations, including sheltering, mobile command post, search and rescue support, dispensing operations, etc.

Picture of the trailer when received in 2007.

The trailer would be used for the start of the operations, and then additional materials would be brought in to continue services. CD members including Vogenberg and Levine have been the point people on outfitting and then inventorying the items in the trailer. The trailer came to use as a stock Haulmark trailer and has been completely customized to hold out items. Shelving was installed and/or removed, tie downs and support brackets were also used.

Some of these items include: 2000 watt Honda generator, propane heating and cooking equipment, wobble lights and electricial cords, traffic control signs,cones and stands, first aid go kits, hazardous materials equipment, cots, and Incident Command Equipment.

Some of the Incident Command equipment include, portable office materials, laptop, bull horns, IC vests, pop up tent, signage and crowd control equipment.

Trailer used at Square Jam 2009.

This trailer can be pulled by any CD vehicle, police SUV, or CD member vehicle with a trailer hitch. It has been used so far in the last 3 Square Jam events, H1N1 dispensing site, and the 2008 Presidental Elections.

Monday September 13th 2010

With the Labor Day Holiday weekend last week, there was no meeting until this monday. A slow and not greatly productive meeting took place with a light attendance. Dep. Corman looked up and bought parts for outstanding projects, Fabricator Triolo fixed a broken chair in the office.

Director Polimer, and Officers Polimer and Levine went to check out our repeater site. It was noticed in our weekly radio test that our Sharon CD repeater was down.

It was discovered that the power supply on the repeater was broken, Dir. Polimer is coordinating this repair with an outside contractor.


When the department too delivery of the new generators weeks ago, it was noticed that a battery terminal was broken off during delivery of the diesel generator. A new one was sent by the distributor and was reinstalled this evening.

Polimer and Levine discussing the sheet metal that will be used for exhausting hot gases from the new generator in the utility truck.

Earl Aftermath

Hurricane Earl made a brush with the New England coast this morning around 0200 hrs about 75 miles southeast of Nantucket. When it passed it was downgraded to a tropical storm. This was good news for all of new england. Email updates from MEMA say that there was few if any damage on the Cape and Islands. Shelters were opened and only 96 residents used them last night.

Sharon CD was ready for activiation, but due to the track and intensity of the storm, EOC was not opened. Members were kept informed by email about the storm. Plans and Training Officer Levine kept emails from the State HHAN system flowing with great infomation. Operations Officer Polimer relayed SKYWARN email updates to the members. And Director Polimer was involved in daily conference calls with MEMA, the Governers office and local town officals.

Hurricane Earl Update

Sharon Civil Defense has been in direct communication with State of MA authorities. Director Polimer has been in conference calls with MEMA the last 2 days.

The current track of the storm seems to show Earl to graze Nantucket about 30-50 miles east of the island. The start of the storm will be around 2100 hrs Friday evening and will end around 0800 saturday.

Civil Defense members have been contacted and updated by Director Polimer and weather updates have been received by members. Memebers will be in "stand by mode" starting friday evening through saturday morning.

Monday August 30th 2010

The summer of hot days and nights continue in New England, this monday night was no different. Work continues on the new generators. 2 guests joined the meeting tonight, and talk of Hurricane Earl was buzzing around the EOC.

Do to the setup of the generator, the hot exhaust needs to be vented out the bottom of the truck. Traut and Director Polimer have designed a exhaust and intake ports and the first cut was made tonight. The generator will then be lifted slightly off the bed and cool air will be taken up.

The hole was cut using our plasma cutter. This cutter uses electrical current and compressed air to cut any metal. The bed of the truck was a heavy diamond plate with years of oil residue and a non slip paint coating. Metal baffles will direct the hot exhaust from the machine under the truck.

Pictured left to right:Traut, Polimer, Simpson

2 guests stopped by the Sharon CD garage this night. First guest was the Communications Officer for the Town of Foxboro, Richard Wright. Richard, a Sharon native, is a special police officer for Foxboro, and has designed and implemented the communications systems for the town. Our other guest was Captain Brian Simpson of the Sharon Fire Department. Captain Simpson is a long time Sharon resident and been with the department over 25 years. He is in charge of the maintenance of all Sharon Fire Department apparatus. Brian is also a member of the State of Massachusetts Haz Mat team.

This is the latest info from the National Hurricane Center as of this posting. Director Polimer has been in contact with all town departments, and Civil Defense is ready for this potential storm.

Join Us!

Sharon Civil Defense is always looking for new members. Stop by any monday night at 7 PM behind the Sharon Police Station to our Headquaters. We would love to show you around and you can see for yourself what CD does.

Our members have very diverse backgrounds: electricial engineers, professional trainers, healthcare professionals, heavy machine operators, handy men, facilities managers, turfgrass managers, etc.

We would love any ham radio operators to join us, we are of need for a communications officer for our new Emergency Operations Communications Center. We currently have 3 ham radio operators, and are in need of more.

Monday August 23, 2010

A cool and rainy night was the setting for this weeks meeting. With many projects going on at CD HQ, this was another busy night for the members.

Our weekly sit down meeting with Director Polimer talking about the weeks happenings starts our meetings at 7pm. The discussion this week was generator issues at Town Hall and the Fire Department,and the delivery of our new diesel and gas generators.

Pictured-Director Polimer, Deputy's Zlotin and Corman, Master Fabricator Traut

Grant monies from Sharon Board of Health and the Federal Gov't purchased privacy screens for shelters and/or dispensing operations. These screens were delivered, one was assembled and then were all put in our shelter/dispensing storage container. Medical Liaison Vogenberg and Operations Officer Ferrara assemble and store the new screens.

With the new generators delivered, work has begun on making the Utility Truck accept the new generator. New mountings must be fabricated, exhausts and intakes holes must be cut and fuel and power lines must get attached. The generators were put on our small chain hoist and looked over thoroughly by the members.

Fabricators Triolo and Traut look over the new diesel generator to be placed on the Bucket Truck. Vogenberg lifting the machine with the small chain hoist.

A small project was started this week, Operations Officer Polimer was tasked with attaching new reflective decals to all small generators on all CD vehicles and gas cans. These decals say the approved fuel for each tool or can, either a gas/oil mix or straight gas. Each CD vehicle has a 1000 watt, 2 cycle generator with a 500 watt light attached. This portable, light weight generator can be used instantly with the correct gas mixture can on board the vehicle.

Other tools to have decals in the future are the many chainsaws in our rescue cabinet, a Honda 2000i generator and can on our LEPC trailer, and other small generators.

Monday August 16th 2010

A muggy monday night in Sharon,MA. CD members gathered in the office for the weekly round table. Items discussed was a after action report on our training on Sunday, generators that are on order, and other minor things.

With 2 new generators on order, CD members needed to remove the old generator out of the Utility and prep it for the new generator. This was started with the removal of the wiring and generator from the truck.

Traut, Polimer, Zlotin, Triolo removing bolts and wires and gas line from the generator.

Director Polimer and Master Fabricator Traut using our roof mounted winch to remove the generator from the truck bed.

Deputy Zlotin, Traut and Polimer slowly lowering the generator to the ground.

Out with the Old!!

Sharon Triathalon 2010 Deployment

CD members were deployed on Sunday August 15th at 0700 for traffic control support. CD was asked by the Sharon Police Department to help with road blocks to protect the athletes participating in the triathalon.

Participating members were Operations Officers Polimer and Ferrara, Plans and Training Officer Levine, Deputy Zlotin and Director Polimer.


Operations Officers used a personal vehicle to set up road blocks and informational signs. Deputy Zlotin and Officer Levine used the Bucket Truck and deployed a portable LED sign at a critical intersection for the bycicle portion of the race. Director Polimer used the Utility Truck, our first response vehicle at another intersection.


Director Polimer was the communications officer for the event, communicating with the Police liasion, Sgt. Brewer. Operations were secured at 1100 hrs.

Sharon's Citizen of the Year 2010

On Wednesday night, our own Director Michael Polimer was awarded the Citizen of the Year award for the Town of Sharon. Director Polimer has been invloved with Sharon Civil Defense since the late 1960s, became Deputy Director in mid 1980s and then Director after the passing of former Director Rosenberg in 2002.

Mike is the head groundskeeper for the Sharon Youth Baseball and Softball Association. He took the reins in the fall of 1996 when fields in Sharon were renovated and the need for a groundskeeper was needed to keep the fields in top shape.


Selectman Joe Roach intruducing Director Polimer.


L-R,Recreation Director McGowan,Selectman Roach,Director Polimer,Jane Polimer(Director's Wife),Operations Officer Polimer, Jen Bothwell(Off.Polimer's Fiance)


L-R,Sharon's Police Chief's Wife, Chief Bernstein, Civil Defense's late Director Rosenberg's daughter, and Director Polimer.

Monday August 9th 2010

A slow, hot summer night at Sharon EOC. With vacationing members and the hot summer sun, this monday was a slow yet productive night.

Last thursday Sharon CD participated in a exercise during the Square Jam 2010 event in Sharon Square. Pictures and an explanation in the next post.

During the night, hoses were configured for our expanding pump inventory. Hoses were made up with cam locks to provide easy, yet stable connections to the pumps. Fabricator Triolo and Operations Officer Polimer worked on the hoses.


The LEPC trailer used in the Square Jam Exercise was put back into service, removing equipment, and securing other equipment after the use. A new trailer lock was added for security during a deployment. Vogenberg, Levine and Director Polimer worked on the trailer.

A discussion ensued about a communications issue that occurred over the weekend with the Sharon Police Department. Director Polimer handled the situation and plans were discussed on monday night about further training with CD members and Police Department personnel on troubleshooting communication failures. Deputy Zlotin and Trainer Levine were tasked with making easy to use plans and training.


Good news about capital expenditures for 2009. The new generators for the Utility Truck and Bucket Truck have been ordered and we are ready to receive them. This will be a large project for the fall and winter for CD members.

Monday August 3, 2010

A nice summer night at Sharon's Emergency Headquarters. Again CD members were busy with many ongoing projects. Director Polimer worked on more hose configurations for our new pumps. Vogenberg and Levine programmed new messages to our LED sign boards. Traut looked at possible battery issues on the Bucket Truck. Triolo fabricated a new door stop for the LEPC trailer. And Sharon EOC participated in the state's Hurricane Radio drill.

L-R:Levine, Zlotin, Triolo,Traut, Polimer.

CD Members will be on a training mission this thursday for the annual Square Jam. This event uses the downtown area of Sharon, with music, food and fun. CD members will be on hand for safety lighting for the community, lighting for the roadway, and emergency support. Also we will be deploying our LEPC trailer. This trailer is a mobile emergency operations center. Anything needed during a major event in town is available in the trailer. We plan on setting up the trailer to show the town our capabilities. See later posts for a detailed look at our trailer.



During Square Jam we will also use our LED sign boards with portable power boxes. These could be used for many uses during an emergency. See Levine and Vogenberg programming the signs. The signs are programmed via a laptop computer and have a flash memory.

Vehicles from the Past:

Military Truck: This vehicle was purchased by Sharon CD in late 1970s and put into service in late 1981. The truck was equipped with extremely low gearing, 4 wheel drive and a winch. It was taken out of service in 2002. Director Polimer is driving.

Fire Truck 3: This fire truck was formerly Sharon's Engine 1. It was equipped with a 15 kw generator that is now on our Squad 1. It was a very difficult vehicle to drive and was taken out of service in the late 1990s. It was replaced with our Squad 1. Late Master Fabricator Walter Bjornson is driving.

CD Archives-Circa 1984

Click on this article from the Patriot Ledger, November 1984, describing CD moving from Sharon Town Hall to our current building.