Scant internet access, inadequate public transportation and other barriers could pose additional problems for Franklin County residents during an emergency, according to a recent report published by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

The commission produced equity data reports for Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and Berkshire counties, as well as municipal reports for each town and city within those counties. The reports highlight deficiencies that would complicate ensuring safety during a crisis, such as extreme weather events.

“It is interesting to see how many people in every municipality are going to need some extra help,” said Raine Brown, Homeland Security Program manager at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG).

The Franklin County report states that a lack of adequate internet access could leave residents without crucial information during a sudden emergency or an ongoing issue like the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, at least 14% of Wendell’s residents have no computer and 15.3% of the households that do have a computer nevertheless lack an internet subscription.

The county also lacks an extensive public transportation system and nearly 8% of residents are without a vehicle, which could be an issue for obtaining medical treatment or evacuating during an emergency. This, the report states, could also exacerbate physical and mental health problems.

More than 24% of the county’s population is over 65, and 4,582 elders live on their own. These are individuals, according to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission’s report, who might not have help in an emergency or who might be unable to properly access information on a cellular device. Also, due to a lack of housing options, some older adults live in a house too large for their needs and may not be able to properly maintain it, which can ultimately cause health and safety issues.

A countywide power outage could also jeopardize the well-being of those who use electricity for ventilators, mobility devices or CPAP machines. Franklin County’s report highlighted the region’s 642 Medicare beneficiaries who are dependent on electricity for medical devices as particular concerns in the event of a crisis.

“The main takeaways are really how many people could be at risk when there’s, say, a flooding event or some sort of mass attacker event ... that would particularly interrupt services that they’re already receiving,” Brown said.

The report identified flooding as “one of the biggest, most well-known risks relevant to the county.” Many Franklin County towns are situated on a body of water and, if there is flooding or a dam break, it could lead to flooded buildings and impassable roads, affecting potential evacuation routes or cutting off access to important utilities and services. Estimates show that in the event of a flood, approximately 809 of the 2,581 miles of county roads run the risk of becoming impassable.

“The county has experienced extensive flooding events in the past, including in recent years, that have caused road closures and fallen trees,” the report states. “Heavy downpours and rapid freeze-thaw cycles can damage roads, and floodwater can spread disease.”

Nearly 7,000 properties in the county are estimated to have greater than a 26% chance of being greatly impacted by flooding over the next 30 years. Also, standing water in warm weather enables the rapid growth of mosquitoes, which are pests and carry diseases.

According to the commission’s report, Greenfield residents specifically have expressed concerns about culverts that are too small to accommodate heavy stormwater flows, gravel and dirt roads with inadequate stormwater drainage, and mudslides following heavy rain. Residents have experienced the impact of the Green River flooding, which has caused damage to properties and farms.

The report also lists wildfires and extreme heat as examples of other events that could cause residents to lose access to utilities and other necessary resources.

“While Franklin County’s risk of wildfire and extreme heat are minor and moderate, respectively, that does not mean it’s impossible that they could face such an event — especially with the changing climate and its potential catastrophic effects,” the report reads. “Over 8,000 properties are at risk of being affected by wildfire in the next 30 years, though the level of risk these properties face is low.”

Greenfield residents expressed concern about the drought that occurred throughout 2020, causing summer wildfires in Leverett and Orange, the report continues. More than 60 acres of land burned in each town. Also, smaller snowpacks and drier summers can deplete drinking water, as well as water for agriculture and industries.

Links to each equity data report and the municipal reports can be found at tinyurl.com/mupjduws.

Brown said these were the first and likely final equity data reports produced by the commission for Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and Berkshire counties. The entire effort, Brown said, cost $35,000, funded by the state Homeland Security Grant Program. This cost included data gathering for the four counties and the cities and towns within them.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.