In response to continuing threats of terrorism, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), designated by the Governor as the state’s Homeland Security Advisor, adopted a statewide regional approach to security and emergency coordination in 2004. The Central Region Homeland Security Advisory Council (CRHSAC or Council) is one of five regional Homeland Security Planning Regions in the Commonwealth.

The Council annually submits its regional homeland security plans to EOPSS, which conforms to the goals of the State Homeland Security Strategy. The State Homeland Security Strategy Plan lays out a strategy for linking regional public safety officials to detect, prevent, respond to and recover from the consequences of an emergency, terrorist threat or critical incident. The purpose of the Regional Security Strategic Plan is to provide a regional framework for collaboration in planning, communication, information sharing, procuring equipment, and training and exercise activities before, during and after an emergency for the sixty units of local government in the Central Region. The five specific goals for this effort include:

1. Enhance the ability to assess risk and prevent future terrorist attacks or critical incidents.

2. Improve the ability to collect, analyze, disseminate, and manage key information.

3. Improve preparedness by enhancing regional coordination.

4. Improve the ability of first responders to communicate at the scene of a terrorist attack or other critical incident.

5. Improve the ability to recover from a terrorist attack or other critical incident.

The Council consists of 19 voting members, and their designees, representing the following disciplines:

• Correctional Services (1 member)

• Emergency management (1 member)

• Emergency Medical Services (1 member)

• Fire Services (4 members)

• Government Administration (1 member)

• Hospitals (1 member)

• Law Enforcement (4 members)

• Public Health (1 member)

• Public Safety Communications (1 member)

• Public Works (1 member)

• Regional Transportation Authority (1 member)

• Cyber-security (1 member)

• Higher Education (1 member)

• EOPSS (1 non-voting member)

• MEMA (1 non-voting member)

The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) provides planning, facilitation, administrative support, and project management to the CRHSAC in an effort to implement the Council’s Regional Homeland Security Plan.

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) serves as the lead Statewide Fiduciary for the Massachusetts Homeland Security Planning Regions under a grant from EOPSS for the State Homeland Security Program Grants. In this role, MAPC has partnered with CMRPC to provide fiduciary, planning, facilitation, administrative support, and procurement and project management services to the Central Region Homeland Security Advisory Council.

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CRHSAC efforts are funded by EOPSS through a State Homeland Security Program grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.