Communities join to buy emergency gear

The town's first responders now have access to a portable shelter system and personal protective gear that will help the police, fire, emergency management, and public health departments be better prepared to handle a large-scale emergency.

The shelter, an inflatable unit manufactured by Federal Fabrics Inc. of Lowell, is a military-grade chemical-, radiological-, and biological-resistant facility that can be used as an emergency shelter or operations center.

It was purchased by the public health departments in Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Lowell, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, and Westford with a $76,000 grant from the Northeast Homeland Security Regional Advisory Council.

The council encompasses 85 communities.

BRENDA J. BUOTE