Wayland Patch 8/26/11: Individual Preparedness is Key, Wayland Town Officials Stress – Wayland, MA Patch. Representatives from Wayland’s police and fire departments, Department of Public Works, town administrator’s office and others met this morning to discuss the town’s preparedness for Hurricane Irene. Doug Leard, chair of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, said a primary topic at that meeting was communication. “If we do lose all phones and communication, how do we get to people?” he said they discussed. “Hopefully, the winds aren’t going to be so strong that we’re going to lose cell towers. But if something happens, how do we communicate to the public? If we lose cable, cell phones, telephone lines, getting information out to the public is a problem, hence the need for individual preparation.” Leard stressed that it’s difficult to know exactly what to expect when Hurricane Irene blows through Wayland, so the best course of action is to prepare for the worst.