Medical professionals approached for help
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Shrewsbury - Shrewsbury's 1,400 doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists and veterinarians have been called on to commit their services in a case of a grave emergency.

Shrewsbury Board of Health Director Nancy Allen is asking these people to sign up for the Worces- ter Regional Medical Reserve Corps, a group of regional volunteers that is called on to assist local governments if there is a natural disaster, outbreak of disease or any other large-scale emergency in about 70 surrounding communities.

In a presentation before the Board of Selectman at its Oct. 1 meeting, Allen said roughly 1,000 people from the Worcester area have signed up to volunteer so far, and that people are able to choose which community they would like to volunteer in.

"If people have parents living in a nearby community and they would like to volunteer there, or the community that they work in, that is allowed," Allen said. "We hope most people would want to help right here in Shrewsbury."

The Board of Health will send letters directly to all medical professionals living in town asking them to sign up.

The Worcester Regional Medical Reserve Corps is also in need of non-medical volunteers who would control traffic, deliver supplies and serve as people movers during an emergency.

The Worcester Regional Medical Reserve Corps is one of about 400 such organizations throughout the country that were created following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Informational posters about the program can be found at Town Hall, the Senior Center and the library. People who are interested in volunteering can contact Nancy Allen at 508-841- 8512 for more information.

Other news

In other Board of Selectmen news, Shrewsbury residents living in Precinct 9 will now vote at Fire Station #3 on CenTech Blvd.

The board thanked the people at Liberty Assembly of God Church, the previous Precinct 9 polling location, for allowing the town to use their building as an interim polling place at no cost.

The board will mail relocation reminders to all Precinct 9 voters after the first of the year, but prior to the next scheduled election.