The new report from Harvard University re the Boston Marathon bombing has some useful findings for the emergency management community. See: Why Was Boston Strong? Lessons from the Boston Marathon Bombing
As one might expect, some things went well, but others did not.
Recovery Diva 
I am a former Bostonian, and proud of it, though not Irish. We had civil servants in the family but no public safety officials.
When almost every other individual is somehow related to either a Boston cop/firefighter or EMT and to date, the Irish still have a stronghold in the political leadership of Beantown, of course Boston is strong!