[ladyjane]

I don't live too far from Leominster or Lowell and I haven't been able to find anything of great importance located in these areas (ie: military bases, nuclear power plants, etc.) and they are not located along the shore. I really think these communities are listed because someone took the time to write a grant proposal and they received the funding.

Every one of those cities listed is on a major highway about an hour or so north or west of Boston. Leominster is out Rte. 2 west , Lowell Rte 3 northwest. Beverly Rte. 1 north and Newburyport Rte. 95 North. If there were an emergency in Boston people would head north and northwest. Many would start to run out of gas in those locations. BTW both Beverly and Newburyport are on the north shore.

[ExSoldier]

My sister's family has a condo right in downtown Boston. My guess is that in the event of an emergency, they'd try and make it to their cabin in Vermont. I dunno how far it is, but they do have a good 4x4 vehicle. I have tried to help them cook up an evacuation plan, but being good liberals they think I'm a paranoid nut. Still, I love 'em and keep on prayin' they'll come to know the Lord before it's too late.

[bubbas_mom]

Yes, all of the MA cities on the Red Cross list could be along evacuation routes from the city of Boston. But the Red Cross is looking to hire one or two people and the positions in Beverly and Newburyport are part-time. I don't think these few people would be able to make much of an impact in any evacuation situation. I really think their focus would be community education/prepartion.