1) Meteorological, Topological and Underground disasters:
Hurricanes and tornadoes, hailstorms, ice storms and snowstorms, droughts, floods, earthquakes.

Analysis (low risk)
For the most part, the potential impact of meteorological, topological and underground disasters is assessed to be low.
Hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, floods and earthquakes are historically and statistically relatively rare in western Massachusetts, and particularly in the local areas in which Hillcrest campuses are located. For example, the MA Emergency Management Agency states-that moderate to major earthquake activity occurs in Mass. only about every 50 – 70 years, with more serious earthquake activity occurring only every 200 – 300 years. Hurricanes in the region tend to affect western MA. through heavy rains, rather than destructive winds.

Of these types of natural disasters, then, those which have the highest potential for affecting Hillcrest are winter weather related events such as ice storms and snowstorms, and these tend to be most significant for Hillcrest when they affect the electric power supply and the ability of staff to travel to/from the work site.

Discussion
a) Loss of electric power is relatively rare (0 – 3 times/year) and, most commonly, for very short periods of time (less than one hour) when it occurs. These losses are managed using emergency power generators at each Hillcrest residential campus. The generators are positioned to insure safety, the maintenance of relative comfort for students, and adequacy of food storage.

In the event of loss of power at the day program, students can be transported back to their residences.

b) Staff travel — Thanks to the effectiveness of the local municipalities in performing snow removal and road maintenance activities during winter months, staff travel is rarely affected. When and if staff travel is affected for short periods (e.g., half a day), agency staff with four wheel drive vehicles can, have and will assist with staff transport to/from work sites, as possible.

Staff who are unable to travel home after work could be temporarily housed on campus, as necessary, separate and apart from students.

In the event of severely inclement weather, the day program would be cancelled, as it is when local public schools are cancelled due to weather.