West Tisbury Emergency Management

West Tisbury Emergency Management Official page for the West Tisbury Emergency Management Department. Follow for alerts, preparedness tips, shelter info, and community updates.

Serving the Town of West Tisbury, MA and our island neighbors with year-round public safety support.

05/23/2026

Make a plan ahead of time if you live in an area prone to wildfires. If you see one, report it right away. If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately.

Stay informed & learn what to do before, during, & after a wildfire: ready.gov/wildfires

🔥🌲 Join Us for May’s “Ready Together: Community Preparedness” Presentation! 🌲🔥May is National Wildfire Awareness Month, ...
05/22/2026

🔥🌲 Join Us for May’s “Ready Together: Community Preparedness” Presentation! 🌲🔥

May is National Wildfire Awareness Month, and here in West Tisbury, wildfire preparedness matters. With our rural landscape and the nearby Manuel F. Correllus State Forest, understanding wildfire risk and how to protect your home, family, and community is more important than ever.

Join West Tisbury Emergency Management for “Wildfire Ready: Protecting Your Home, Family & Community” — an informative and practical presentation focused on wildfire awareness, prevention, and preparedness.

đź“… Saturday, May 23, 2026
🕞 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
đź“Ť West Tisbury Free Public Library

Topics will include:
âś… Reducing wildfire risk around your home
âś… Defensible space & vegetation management
âś… Outdoor burning & fire safety tips
âś… Emergency alerts & evacuation planning
âś… Go-bags & emergency preparedness
âś… What to do during a wildfire emergency

This session includes practical preparedness tips, local relevance, take-home resources, and interactive discussion to help residents stay safe and ready before wildfire season.

Free & open to the public! Let’s continue getting for a safer, more resilient West Tisbury. 🌿🚒

05/18/2026

On Saturday, May 23, at 3:30pm, at the West Tisbury Free Public Library, join Jennelle Gadowski of the West Tisbury Emergency Management Department for the next event in our monthly series, “Ready Together: Community Preparedness.” All are welcome.

May is National Wildfire Awareness Month, and communities like West Tisbury face wildfire risk due to wooded areas, dry conditions, and rural landscapes—including the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest. Join West Tisbury Emergency Management for an informative community presentation focused on wildfire awareness, prevention, and preparedness. Topics will include reducing wildfire risk around your home, defensible space, outdoor burning safety, evacuation planning, emergency alerts, go-bags, and what to do during a wildfire emergency. This session includes practical safety tips, preparedness resources, and interactive discussion to help residents stay safe and ready.

05/18/2026

Many homeowners rely solely on the fire department to protect their property during a wildfire – but that expectation does not reflect the reality of wildfire preparedness and response. Join the NVFC for this panel discussion that will explore the shared responsibility between fire departments and...

🚨 GRANT AWARDED: West Tisbury SAFE & Senior SAFE Program 🚨The Town of West Tisbury is proud to announce that we have bee...
05/11/2026

🚨 GRANT AWARDED: West Tisbury SAFE & Senior SAFE Program 🚨

The Town of West Tisbury is proud to announce that we have been awarded funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for:
•SAFE (Student Awareness of Fire Education) Planning Grant – $1,500
•Senior SAFE Program Grant – $2,676.73

This marks an exciting milestone as we work together to establish West Tisbury’s first-ever SAFE Program!

Through this funding, the West Tisbury Fire Department and West Tisbury Emergency Management Department will collaborate to:

âś” Develop a comprehensive fire & life safety curriculum for our students
âś” Provide fire and life safety education to our most vulnerable populations, including youth and older adults
âś” Expand outreach through community presentations and educational programming
âś” Conduct residential safety visits, including smoke & CO alarm installation and fall prevention
âś” Strengthen overall community preparedness and resilience

We’re proud to share that our program will be led by:
•Primary SAFE Educator: Fire Prevention Officer Brynn Schaffner
•Secondary SAFE Educator: Emergency Management Director Jennelle Gadowski

We also look forward to partnering with and providing presentations alongside the West Tisbury School, Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School, Martha's Vineyard Regional High School - MVRHS, and the Up-Island Council on Aging (Howe’s House) as we build and expand this important community program.

We are incredibly grateful to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their support in helping us protect and educate our community.

This is just the beginning — we look forward to building a strong, sustainable program that keeps West Tisbury safe.

🔥 Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is Here! 🔥Join us in recognizing Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, a national c...
05/02/2026

🔥 Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is Here! 🔥

Join us in recognizing Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, a national campaign led by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that encourages communities to take action to reduce wildfire risk and protect what matters most.

🌳 Wildfires don’t just happen “somewhere else”—they can impact communities like ours. The good news? Simple actions around your home can make a big difference.

âś… Create a 5-foot noncombustible zone around your home
âś… Keep lawns trimmed and vegetation maintained
âś… Clear leaves, needles, and debris from roofs and gutters
âś… Move firewood at least 30 feet away from structures
âś… Make a plan with two ways out for your household
✅ Don’t forget your pets and animals in your evacuation plan

Small, low-cost projects—like cleaning debris or improving your home’s “ignition zone”—can significantly reduce wildfire risk.

đź“… Observed annually on the first Saturday in May, this day is all about neighbors helping neighbors and building a more fire-resilient community.

👉 Learn more and get involved by following NFPA’s Wildfire and Firewise USA Programs and visiting https://www.wildfireprepday.org/

05/02/2026

Wildfires in Massachusetts may be more common than you think. In 2024, there were more than 1,200 wildfires that burned 4,000+ acres across the state.

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, recognized annually on the first Saturday in May, is a reminder that you can reduce the risk to yourself and loved ones by taking steps to remove flammable materials near your home.

In addition, it's a good time to check your Emergency Supply Kit to ensure you have what you need in case of a wildfire-related evacuation.

Learn more: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/build-an-emergency-kit

04/28/2026

Raking dry leaves and other debris from the perimeter of your home, cleaning out gutters, and making sure your house number is clearly visible to firefighters.

These are just a few of the many simple ways to be part of .

So mark your calendar for this Saturday, May 2, and take the steps needed to protect your home from wildfire! https://www.nfpa.org/wildfireprepday

04/25/2026

Do you know where to take shelter during a tornado warning or how to avoid heat-related illness in the hot summer months? During Severe Weather Awareness Week, check out MEMA’s website with safety tips for specific threats and hazards so you can be prepared before, during and after severe weather events: https://www.mass.gov/safety-tips-for-specific-threats-hazards

04/23/2026

During Severe Weather Awareness Week, MEMA is highlighting some ways you and your family can . Emergency alerts play an important role in making sure you and your family can stay safe during a disaster or emergency.

Listen to local news and to your NOAA radio.

Follow public safety and weather accounts on social media.

Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your cell phone and sign up to receive alerts from your community’s local alert system if one is available.

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454 State Road
West Tisbury, MA
02575

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