Emergency Management & Office of Homeland Security

• FEMA

• U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security

• Indiana Dept. of Homeland Security

• Ready.Gov

• C.E.R.T.

• The Herald Bulletin

• The Indianapolis Star

• WTTV CBS 4

• WRTV ABC 6

• WISH TV 8

• WTHR NBC 13

• WXIN FOX 59

• 98.7 FM WQME

• 91.7 FM WEEM

• United Way of Madison County

• American Red Cross- Indiana

• Alternatives, Inc.

• Salvation Army of Madison County

• Operation Love

• Madison County Health Department

• St. Vincent- Anderson Regional Hospital

• Community Hospital- Anderson

• Madison Co. Community Health Center

• St. Vincent Mercy Hospital (Elwood)

The EOC is manned and operated by staff from all agencies involved in emergency response. Behind the scenes these responders are supported by the EOC Team.  

Madison County EMA maintains a group of members that are active in the EOC. As part of the EOC Team, members receive training in many disciplines.

• National Incident Management System/Incident Command System (NIMS/ICS)

• Critical Incident Management

• Networking and Technology

• Public Relations and Notification

• Radio Communications and Technology

The EOC Team trains 15-20 hours per year to maintain knowledge and technique in addition to incidents or specialized training offered at other locations.

The Public Information Group is responsible for providing the public with timely and accurate information during emergency situations to ensure the protection and safety of both lives and property.  During normal times, the Public Information Division conducts public speaking engagements, training and seminars in the community to promote emergency preparedness. 

Our main objective is your safety; whether it’s learning about how to be aware of severe weather or being updated live via news media about a current local emergency.   The Public Information Group currently consists of two public information officers who have nearly 50 years combined public safety experience.

Responsibilities

• Maintain Social Media and Web presence

• Community Outreach and Education

• Maintain communication with local news media

To contact the Public Information & Affairs Group, please send an email to: Tom Ecker, Director of Emergency Management

The mission of the Warning Group is to provide timely warning to the public, schools, police, fire, and governmental agencies, ofnatural and manmade hazards. These include, but are not limited to severe weather, floods, hazardous materials incidents, large fires, explosions, and any other incidents relating to public safety and warning. A StormNet program is maintained and staffed by trained observers who are dispatched to observations points about Madison County in times when severe weather threatens. Observer reports are relayed to the Madison County Emergency Management Warning Center by amateur radio. When the Warning Center determines that a public warning is warranted, warnings are paged out on 453.825 MHz for special receivers maintained by schools, radio broadcast stations, government agencies, and businesses. Warnings are coordinated with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis by radio. Their warnings are reissued by the Warning Center and they are notified when the Warning Center issues a warning based on local observations. There is an annual training session, usually in March, for observers. Members of public safety organizations and interested volunteers are welcome to attend. Training and an amateur radio license are required to become a volunteer. Sirens in Madison County are controlled by municipal governments which have varying policies regarding the circumstances under which they are sounded. The Warning Center makes recommendations as to when they should be sounded, but each locality makes the final decision on sounding their sirens.  

The Communications Group is the group of volunteers responsible for various communications assignments of the organization. The 40 plus members, all Amateur Radio Operators (Hams), are trained and available to provide for the needs of Emergency Management. The overall mission is to provide communications support for County Government functions in the event of an emergency or other situation that taxes existing communications systems beyond their capability. The Group supports the four functions of Emergency Management: Mitigation (planning for any communications disruption), Preparedness (exercises and tests on a regular basis), Response (responding to emergencies and threats of emergency), Recovery (critiques after an activity). Additionally, the group is responsible for: The group members donate about 2,400 man-hours per year to EMA functions. The 80 to 90 yearly functions include: Traditionally Amateur Radio Operators have been viewed as the group who could “get a message through” when other conventional sources of communications fail (“When All Else Fails – Amateur Radio”). Our members volunteer their time and equipment to be ready to provide local or across the country communications needs. They also have developed the skills needed to organize an activity or provide the communications link needed to tie together otherwise non-compatible communications networks. Most of the communications activities of the group will be heard on the Amateur Radio repeaters located in the County. Listen to 146.820 MHz., 147.090 MHz., or 443.350 MHz. to hear what is going on. The 146.820 frequency is particularly valuable during severe weather as the network for the Storm net program. This network tracks all severe weather in our County and feeds the observer reports to the Warning Division. Licensed Communications frequencies include 453.8250 and 453.4500 MHz. among others  

• Providing a plan to support a communications disruption within the County.

• Providing trained communicators with equipment to supplement or replace existing systems.

• Provide an “Emergency Communications Center (ECC)” within the “Emergency Operations Center (EOC)”.

• Provide a “Mobile Operations Center (MCU)”.

• Provide necessary communications equipment to the other groups of the organization (Staff, Field Support Group, HAZMAT Team, Warning Group, EOC Team). — Training of First Responders and support of the State SAFE-T System in the County.

• Stormnet (formerly SKYWARN) observations during severe weather.

• Weekly tests (Sunday at 8:10 PM on 146.820 MHz.).

• Trained responders for Damage Assessment after an emergency.

• River/Creek water level monitoring as needed.

• Participant safety & coordination activities for walks, runs and other local events.

• Trained assistance — Organized resources for evacuations and searches.

• Participation in County exercises to provide all levels of communications.

• Support for the County Warning function.

Madison County Amateur Radio Club

Anderson Repeater Club

Mobile Unit

This Mobile Communications Unit is the third communications vehicle that the volunteers of Madison County have supported. The first was a 1946 GMC Military 6X6 that was fitted out in 1955. It was replaced in 1983 by a 1978 Barth Motor home that served until MCU-1 was delivered in March, 2006. This unit supports NIMS (National Incident Management System) and Incident Command activities in our County and is available to 12 surrounding counties (District 6). MCU-1 is a 2005 Freightliner chassis completed by MBF Industries, Sanford, Florida. It is 37 feet long, 13 feet high, has a 250 HP Cummins Turbodiesel engine and a 20KW AC generator. This unit is classified as an Emergency Response Vehicle. Major features include: Volunteer EMA drivers provide response from the storage location in South Anderson. An “Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Team” is available to support Incident Commanders. Communications Capabilities: Police Agencies: Fire Agencies: Emergency Management: State of Indiana SAFE-T System: Amateur Radio: Other Resources:

• Conference Room for the on-scene Incident Commanders

• Galley, rest room & storage areas

• Communications area with 8 operating positions & 14 radios

• 19 radio antennas permanently installed

• Wireless Computer network, Internet Connection, etc.

• External work station with awning

• Catwalk/Observation Platform at roof level

• 30 Foot high extending mast with low light camera system

• Complete weather station

• AC Generator and DC power distribution

• Madison County Sheriff Department

• All Madison County Cities and Towns

• City of Anderson Police

• Indiana State Police, Pendleton Post

• All Madison County Fire Departments

• City of Anderson, Elwood and Alexandria Fire Departments

• Adjacent Counties Fire Departments

• Madison County EMA

• Adjacent Counties EMA

• Indiana Department of Homeland Security

• HAZMAT Team

• Madison County Talk Groups (channels)

• District 6 Groups

• State Groups

• Statewide Groups

• All Madison County Systems

• All Counties in the State (VHF and UHF)

• Link to EMA District 6 EOC’s

• Link to National Weather Service SKYWARN

• Madison County Highway Department

• Emergency Medical Helicopter services (Lifeline, etc.)

• Ambulance and Hospital networks

• Family Radio Service

• Aircraft Communications

• Local Television and Radio Broadcast station monitoring

• Internet connection

• Cellular Telephone

The Field Support Team (FST) consists of approximately 30 volunteers who supplement public safety responders by providing traffic control, crowd control and security when requested. The Field Support Team responds to most serious vehicle accidents, fires, hazardous material spills and law enforcement situations throughout Madison County when requested by police, fire, or other government agencies within Madison County. These men and women provide their services 7 days a week, 24 hours a day with no exception to nights, weekends and holidays. FST members receive specialized training, which consist of setting up landing zones for medical helicopters, traffic control, safety around improvised explosive devices, utility line safety, hazardous materials, and much more. The FST responds on average 2-3 times per week for a total of approximately 15,000 volunteer hours per year.