The U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center, better known around town as Natick Labs, went under a sudden shelter-in-place order Tuesday, halting employees where they were as law enforcement and tactical units rolled onto the installation. Local TV crews and first responders set up just outside the post while the situation played out behind the gates.
On its official Facebook page, the installation warned, "THIS IS NOT A DRILL!" and said the shelter-in-place was in effect immediately, instructing staff to stay put and promising updates through official channels, according to NBC Boston. NBC Boston reports the outlet also contacted the Soldier Systems Center public affairs office, Natick Police and the Massachusetts State Police for more information.
Law enforcement response
Sky5 footage and reporters on the ground showed police cruisers, tactical officers and a SWAT presence clustered near one of the base entrances, and General Greene Avenue was shut down to traffic, according to WCVB. Witnesses told WCVB they were turned away at the gates and that staging areas were set up near Lake Cochituate as officials coordinated the response. Authorities have not yet released any details about what triggered the shelter-in-place.
What the Soldier Systems Center does
The Natick Soldier Systems Center is home to the Army’s DEVCOM Soldier Center, which works on clothing, shelters, food rations, aerial delivery systems and other gear that keeps service members supplied and protected, according to the center’s website and DEVCOM. The post sits along General Greene Avenue and includes multiple laboratories and research offices. The Boston Globe reports the facility employs hundreds of civilians and contractors alongside active-duty soldiers and serves as one of the Army’s key research hubs in New England.
Local impact and next steps
No public evacuation orders have been issued for nearby neighborhoods, but drivers are being told to expect backups around Lake Cochituate and General Greene Avenue while emergency crews remain on scene, Boston 25 reports. The installation has said it will share further updates through its official channels and social media as more information comes out, per NBC Boston.
