ODPS Ohio Emergency Management Agency Technical Support Division

Technical Support Division

The Technical Support Division is made up of three Ohio EMA branches: Facilities, Logistics & Calibration; Communications; and Data Management. The mission of this division is to:

• Ensure that the facilities, equipment and technical systems exist to carry out the day-to-day and emergency operations of the agency.
• Develop and maintain statewide emergency warning and communications systems.
• Maintain and coordinate the issue of emergency response resources
• Operate radiological maintenance and calibration laboratory and provide technical expertise on radiation detection, instrument maintenance and calibration.
• Coordinate emergency communications and support activities during disaster situations.
• Maintenance and modification of the State Emergency Operations Center.
• Assist local governments with construction of county emergency operations centers, warning and communications systems, and state emergency response resources.
• Develop and maintain data information systems to support the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and State Emergency Operations Center.

The Technical Support Division manages the Special Projects grants program which is funded from the Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) program. Over the past few years the Special Projects program has been focused on supporting the construction of Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) at the county level. In this manner the number of county EOC’s that meet the Ohio EMA construction criteria (established with FEMA) has been increased.

The Special Projects grants program has also provided funding in the past for warning sirens, Emergency Alert System equipment, EOC software, and communication and EOC equipment.

As part of the Technical Support Division’s support for the Special Projects program, the Facility Engineer provides assistance during the grant application process, the design process and the construction monitoring phase.

The Technical Support Division also provides logistical assistance in support of emergency conditions. The Technical Support Division maintains a resource database with information on emergency supplies and vendors for assistance to counties during emergencies. The Division also monitors and provides assistance for the usage of EMA owned resources such as sand bags for use during flood conditions and portable pumps and pipe to help supply potable water to flood impacted communities when necessary.