Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo of the day.

McAuliffe steps into role on MRPC executive committee

FILE PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Shaun McAuliffe, Hopkinton’s Health Director, recently was named co-chair of the Metro Regional Preparedness Coalition (MRPC) Executive Committee.

The MRPC serves 60 Massachusetts communities in the Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition Region 4AB. The region stretches as far east as Scituate and as far west as Hopkinton.

“Our group is huge,” said McAuliffe. “It’s a huge area.”

According to its website, the MRPC “exists to enhance regional health and medical readiness for emergency events through collaborative, multidiscipline planning in order to foster a coordinated and effective regional response to a variety of threats and hazards.”

“Our job is to look at all the different risks that could impact … our group,” McAuliffe noted.

He explained that the MRPC is charged with coordinating with the state’s public health emergency preparedness awareness team. It also helps train the 60 communities in its survey on a variety of emergency scenarios, including hurricanes and flood surge, bioterrorism and pandemic/disease events.

“Temperature extremes is another thing we’re working on,” added McAuliffe. “Last year’s big project was putting together extreme heat plans.”

Overall, the goal is to figure out how to coordinate regional and municipal responses to emergency situations so services can be returned to the public quickly, he explained. Challenges like how to coordinate everything from water distribution to power restoration are continuous areas of focus.

McAuliffe has been a member of the MRPC since he started with the Health Department eight years ago. He stepped into the co-chair role after accepting a nomination for the position. He is no stranger to dealing with emergency preparedness, either; he noted previous experience working in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina along with hazardous waste sites throughout the country.

“I have experience working in these tough situations,” he said.

Latest News

The Select Board on Tuesday interviewed four law firms in an ongoing effort to evaluate the town’s current legal representation and available options for town counsel.

This week’s Police Log features two arrests, along with reports of an erratic driver, issues with jet skiers at Lake Maspenock and a prank on a Hunter’s Ridge Way resident.

Kari Griffin, 56, passed away Aug. 7. She was a former resident of Hopkinton.

Sharon Hutchinson, 76, passed away Aug. 8.

The Hopkinton Trails Club will host a tour of the trails at Berry Acres on Sunday.

Town meetings tonight include the School Committee (6:30).

Photo of the Day

A rainbow forms over Legacy Farms North Road on a recent rainy day.

PHOTO/AMIT JAGDALE