Anyone who shoveled 30 inches of snow this March might want to know: How often is this going to happen?

According to the Berkshire Eagle, a handful of Berkshire communities just won grants to answer such questions — and to help them understand their vulnerabilities to climate change. Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton said the winter's nor'easters — like the one that covered North Adams in 30 inches of snow March 7 — proved how important it is to be prepared for a changing climate.

The communities will assess the ways in which they are susceptible to climate change and develop resiliency plans, according to a May 29 release issued by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

The awards were $22,000 to Dalton, $30,000 to North Adams, $35,500 to Pittsfield, $20,000 to Sandisfield and $22,000 to Sheffield.

Gov. Charlie Baker's office announced that 82 cities and towns will receive a total of $2 million through the program, the product of a 2016 executive order signed by Baker that implores the state to address climate change.

Each town selects a project coordinator, who will assemble a team of staff and volunteers to lead the effort. They receive assistance from state-certified experts who provide information such as climate data and projections.

Towns that complete the program will be eligible to win further grant funding to implement work identified by each community.

An additional $3 million has been set aside. For North Adams, addressing climate change is a component of its Vision 2030 master plan

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