Colebrook

When three F-3 tornados hit central and western Massachusetts on June 1, 2011, few were prepared for the calamity that hit the region. But surprises are nothing new for Colebrook. Our team responded literally within minutes, ensuring clients’ person and property were safe and repairs and replacement facilities were on the way.

Within hours, we were informed we would be hosting the official site for federal, state and local government response to the tornado at one of our managed properties, the National Basketball Hall of Fame. By midnight of the first day, we had a fully functioning headquarters and logistics location for hundreds of first response professionals and scores support vehicles, including helicopters.

As advisors to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield, Colebrook also drew the assignment of finding interim locations for three parochial schools following the tornado’s devastation of their existing facilities: Cathedral High School, St. Michael’s Academy and St. Michael’s Pre-K.

After an extensive survey of some 33 properties, we arrived at timely and cost-effective solutions. Each school was successfully located in appropriate facilities on time and under budget - all within a span of nine weeks. We accomplished this using our tried and true participatory management process, modified for these specific requirements. We maintained constant contact with all relevant constituents: school administration, diocese financial staff, government officials and public information officers. Our team led and coordinated the complex and time-critical process, making sure we validated all relevant assumptions and identified out early critical faults, resulting in an optimal outcome.