Climate change poses a significant threat to communities where large toxic chemical users reside when critical infrastructure and services fail or are damaged. The Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) has created a curriculum to build awareness and educate first responders, Local & Regional Emergency Planning Councils and businesses about the toxic chemicals stored, used and transported through their communities. OTA will demonstrate their online mapping tool to identify toxics users in relation to climate change-related vulnerability factors such as flood, hurricane, and environmental justice zones. OTA works with stakeholders to prevent potential climate change related chemical disasters and bolster safer communities by educating community leaders about their vulnerabilities to chemicals within their vicinities, and by building toxics use reduction into local emergency preparedness and planning frameworks. For more information: www.mass.gov/eea/ota-climate.

Note: This meeting is open to any community health center employee in the UASI Metro Boston Homeland Security Region. There is a parking garage available at 35 Northampton Street. With validation, the parking fee will be $5.