Page 12 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 Governor proclaims September to be Emergency Preparedness Month G overnor Charlie Baker has proclaimed September to be Emergency Preparedness Month to encourage residents, families and organizations to prepare for emergencies and disasters. September is also National Preparedness Month. The Commonwealth will kick-off the annual observance by launching a public Thank You campaign on social media to recognize the tireless eff orts of essential workers and organizations that are doing so much to keep the Commonwealth prepared and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of emergency preparedness, and the role we all must play in better preparing our homes, workplaces and communities for the unexpected,” said Baker. “It has also highlighted the incredible contributions of so many individMassort Noise Complaint Line: 617-561-3333 uals who have stepped up every day to ensure that essential services and goods continued to be delivered throughout this public health emergency.” “Emergency Preparedness Month provides us with an opportunity each year to focus on what we can do to make ourselves and our families better prepared,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Especially now, we are thankful for all the tireless eff orts of the Commonwealth’s essential workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.” Visitors to Mass.Gov/EPmonth can download a certificate of appreciation to thank an essential worker or organization in their community. After personalizing the certifi cate, residents are asked to post a picture of the certificate to the social media platform of their choice with the hashtag #EPisEssential. “Everyone plays an important role in staying prepared, especially in the face of new challenges posed by the pandemic,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Thomas Turco. “I hope these initiatives raise awareness of present-day risks, outline measures we all should be taking, and facilitate collaboration between the public and private sectors. When we embrace preparedness, we all have an opportunity to serve our communities.” “Preparedness takes a whole community effort and during the COVID-19 pandemic so many essential workers and organizations across the Commonwealth have worked tirelessly to keep medical services operating, public safety operations functioning, food, medicine and commodities stocked, and other vital needs met during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Massachusetts SENATE | FROM Page 3 ponent in Kennedy... and that he expected to win and continue to champion the causes he initiated and the causes supported by his Massachusetts. In short, he was loaded for bear. What we witnessed was a revitalized Ed Markey who hit the campaign trail as soon as the pandemic restrictions lessened a bit in mid-June, and launched what was essentially a 10-week campaign leading up to Tuesday’s Sept. 1 primary. As late as June, the “experts” Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Director Samantha Phillips. During September, MEMA and the state Department of Public Health will share information on their respective social media accounts about emergency preparedness topics, including emergency planning, building an emergency kit, preparing for disasters, youth preparedness and ways to get involved in community preparedness. This emergency preparedness information includes guidance about how to prepare for emergencies during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The state Department of Transportation will feature signage along highways to raise awareness of Emergency Preparedness Month. To say thank you to an essential worker or organization in your community and to fi nd resources on how to prepare for emergencies large and small, visit http:// www.mass.gov/EPmonth. had Kennedy leading Markey by 10 percentage points in the polls. This did not seem to faze Markey and his campaigners at all. Perhaps it gave them more motivation. Young people – college students and many of those in the coveted 18-34 age group – began to gravitate toward Markey in droves. In Bernie Sanders-esque fashion, they Tweeted, Instagrammed and SnapChatted Markey to new heights on social media. “Markeyverse” was launched and tall, smiling Ed Markey ate it all up, while sporting his clunky, but classic, 1987 Air Jordans. Three weeks ago it was called a “dead heat.” Three days ago, it was Ed Markey in the lead... just about everywhere. Tuesday night? The “all gas, no brakes” fi nish got Malden’s Markey to the finish line on the day he called “Game Seven of the World Series.” Go get fitted for the ring, champ. You won it! The transformation from unexpected underdog facing an unsuspected challenge to a beaming, tireless, energetic winner was complete. There are plenty of people in this area who check all the same boxes as Ed Markey does on his “to do” list and lots of others who just don’t agree with his politics and ideas. A lot of both voted for him Tuesday, some did not. But just about anyone who lives in these parts would agree with the following statement. Don’t poke the bear. You probably won’t get the result you expected or wanted.
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