Troop 10 Visits the MEMA "Bunker" in Framingham

In May of 2011, Troop 10 was able to garner a special invitation to visit the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) facility located on Rte 9 in Framingham.  This facility is normally not open to the general public. 

This facility was constructed in the early 1960's, as part of President Kennedy's plan for each state to have a place to ensure continuity of the state government following a nuclear attack.  Massachusetts was the first to construct an underground, near blast-proof emergency operations center.  The "Bunker", as it came to be called, is now used as the command post for coordinating state emergency safety/rescue personnel during severe weather or natural disasters, such as winter storms, hurricanes, etc.  One thing we learned during our visit, is that it is used each Patriot's Day to coordinate and track all safety aspects of the Boston Marathon.

The congratulatory letter sent by the White House to mark the dedication of the Bunker, is shown below with a photo autographed by President Kennedy.  It was sent the morning of November 22, 1963. 

Entrance	Long sloping corridor down	Our guide welcome us	The main operations room with huge state map	Troop 10 mans the stations.
Briefing from our guide	Main communications room	"Hotline" to the White House	Air filtration system	The bunker's morgue
Electric generators	Umm... where are the locks?	Shock absorbing water couplings	Power control systems	Sleeping quarters for the staff
Congratulatory letter from White House	Ok, lets get grass stains on our Class-A's