The 1926 Committee

Centennial Gathering

Emergency Action Plan

Short, clear steps for emergencies at Inman Hill. Rain or shine, the event is on.

Open Maps & Shelter Location

Who Is In Charge

On-site incident commanders are Mike Merolli and Jason Kuter. As Mendon Select Board members who secured the town permit, they coordinate with Mendon Police and Fire.

  • When Police, Fire, or EMS arrive, they take command of their incident; event staff support them.
  • If both administrators are unavailable, the senior HQ staff member acts in their place.

Immediate Alert

  • Alerts go out by voice at HQ and text to listed contacts. A runner is the backup if cell service fails.
  • On any alert, take a headcount of your household and report it to HQ.
  • Follow directions quickly and calmly. Nobody travels the site alone after dark.

Calling for Help

For any life-threatening emergency, call 911 first, then notify event headquarters.

  • 911 address: 98 Inman Hill Road, Mendon, MA 01756 — GPS 42.0779° N, 71.5493° W
  • Nearest hospital: Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford, MA (~10 min).
  • First aid at HQ. Mendon Fire as backup.

If Something Happens

Lost or Missing Person

  • Report to HQ immediately with name, description, and last-seen time and place.
  • HQ calls a headcount and controls parking and road access.
  • Searchers go out in pairs — never alone.
  • If not found quickly, HQ calls 911 and brings in Mendon Police.

Severe Weather & Lightning

  • On a severe-weather warning, move to the steel-framed HQ building (Admin / HQ on the site map) and bring your roster.
  • Lightning — “When thunder roars, go indoors.” Shelter at the first thunder; wait 30 minutes after the last before resuming.
  • Open fields, hilltops, and lone trees are off-limits during lightning.
  • If no building is within reach, a hard-topped vehicle with the windows up is a safe fallback — tents are not.
  • Stay sheltered until event leadership announces an official all-clear.

Fire

  • Any uncontrolled fire: alert those nearby, call 911, and notify HQ.
  • Fight a fire only if it is small and safe to, using staged extinguishers/water; otherwise evacuate upwind to open ground.
  • Community fires only, in portable fire pits, and only with Mendon Fire Chief approval that weekend.

Medical Emergency

  • Life-threatening: call 911 first, then HQ; give first aid within your training.
  • All other care goes through the HQ first-aid station.
  • In warm weather watch for heat exhaustion; in cold, hypothermia. Push water, rest, and call 911 for confusion, fainting, or hot, dry skin.

Wildlife

  • Keep your distance; never feed or corner an animal. Store food sealed and away from sleeping areas.
  • Report aggressive animals, or bites/stings with a reaction, to HQ.

Intruder or Security Threat

  • Report any unauthorized or threatening person to HQ; the administrators contact Mendon Police.
  • Active threat: follow Run · Hide · Fight — get away if you can, shelter quietly if you can’t, and account for your household when safe.

Operating Conditions

Rain or Shine

Program continues in normal rain. Activities may be paused or moved when severe weather risk is present.

Fire Safety

Community fires only — Friday night in the 1926 Committee field, Saturday in the designated field (Mendon Fire Department builds and tends Saturday’s fire). Campfires and open flames are only allowed in portable fire pits. No individual fires at tents or in the woods. No ground fires. All fires require Mendon Fire Chief approval that weekend. Dry conditions may mean a fireless weekend — the event continues either way.

Emergency Contact

911 address: 98 Inman Hill Road, Mendon, MA 01756

GPS: 42.0779° N, 71.5493° W

  • On-site leads: Mike Merolli and Jason Kuter — via event HQ
  • Mendon Police (non-emergency): (508) 478-2737
  • Mendon Fire (non-emergency): (508) 473-5330

Email: info@mendoncentennialcamporee.org

During the event, report urgent incidents to staff at the HQ building immediately.