As we in western Massachusetts begin to prepare for the inevitable coronavirus I would like to thank The Springfield Republican/MassLive for its excellent coverage, including how best to prepare. I teach regularly a course on Humanitarian Logistics and Healthcare at the Isenberg School at UMass and, as part of the course, I bring in practitioners to share their expertise and experiences on all phases of disaster management, from preparedness and mitigation, to response and recovery. I have hosted experts from MEMA, the National Guard, the Red Cross, BayState, among others, and even a field trip to the Amherst Fire Station. Their professional expertise gained from the trenches enriches the education of our students and provides very valuable lessons.
Mass Live/February 27, 2020