NORTHAMPTON — When disaster strikes, sometimes the government could use some extra help. And while superhero teams like The Avengers are fictional, plumber George D’Astous is putting together his own team to help those in need that would be both very real and very practical.
D’Astous is the founder and president of the New England Support Team, a nonprofit that hopes to be active by the spring of next year.
The idea for N.E.S.T. is a simple one: provide a vetted list of contractors that fire departments can call upon when disasters strike.
“Licensed plumbers, electricians, builders, refrigeration people, heating and air conditioning people, gas people,” said D’Astous. “Anything to do with a situation that could cause harm to somebody else if that situation wasn’t taken care of.”
He gave the example of a tornado, and the havoc caused by the disruption of gas, power and oil lines. He said that N.E.S.T. contractors would perform tasks like capping off gas lines.
“We make it safe for the firemen to go in,” he said.
So far there are about 45 different companies that have signed up for N.E.S.T. Most are in Massachusetts, but one company has joined from Maine and another has joined from Louisiana. The organization has already joined the Kiwanis International and the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Western Massachusetts.
Paul Graham, of Paul’s Plumbing & Heating, who serves on N.E.S.T.’s board with D’Astous, said that the organization has “been slowly building and getting more members.”
The idea has already garnered support from emergency response officials, including from Northampton Fire Chief Duane Nichols.
“They see the need,” D’Astous said.
Nichols said he finds the concept of N.E.S.T. to be “intriguing,” and described it as another resource that communities could use.
“We can’t do it all,” said Nichols.
The chief also said that the organization, “could be busier than they want to be.”
Northampton Police Chief Jody Kasper also expressed support for the idea.
“I think it’s great,” said Kasper. “Good collaboration, good planning before events.”
“It’s not always the things that people think of that are going to be needed,” she continued.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette has donated $10,000 in in-kind advertising to N.E.S.T.
D’Astous said he was inspired to create N.E.S.T. after he witnessed the flooding in Texas in 2017, but was unable to find an opportunity to volunteer his services.
N.E.S.T. held a press event Friday at the Northampton Fire Department to promote its first fundraiser, a two-day fall music festival at the Three County Fairgrounds. The festival will run from 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21. There will be music from the bands Trailer Trash, Brass Attack, The Radiators Soul and Rhythm and Blues Revue, Southern Rain and the Kenny Chesney tribute group No Shoes Nation Band.
Food trucks and local beer will also be part of the event.
Tickets for the event will be sold at presale for $15, and can be purchased at Florence Paint & Decorating Center and Florence Barber Shop, Miss Florence Diner, Mapleline Dairy and online at Eventbrite.com. The tickets will be $20 at the event, and parking will be $5.
Specifically, the fundraiser will raise money for equipment for N.E.S.T., and to allow it to compensate contractors for their time.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com