Agenda - 04-20-2010 - 4h - Laserfiche WebLink

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button to summon help if they become trapped or come under fire and cannot call for help using verbal communicration. Amateur Radio Link Support: The Amateur Radio Emergency Services group is an active organization of volunteers operating in Orange County that maintains their personal (ham radio) equipment to service first responders in the event the primary radio communications system fails. They also can be placed into service to open a communications fink at the evacuee shelters, thus relieving communications and EOC personnel from the task, so they can focus on maintaining communications links with field responders. The ARES folks invest a great deal of time and their own money in the worthwhile effort to serve their community. To properly supK-ort their efforts at the Meadowlands Emergency Services site, appropriate support equipment needs to be installed to accommodate their equipment. An antenna and radio interlinking equipment is necessary to fully bring the ARES support network online. A support site at the EOC has been al{ocated to ensure safety and dependability of the systems and ensure quicker start-up time immediately following EOC activation. Satellite Phone Link: In the event that all landline telephone communications are cut, this system provides Orange County with a satellite based communications tool during a widespread outage. The Satellite phone system can connect directly with mutual aid counties, North Carolina State Emergency Operations Center, other emergency sites such as FEMA facilities when other forms of communication are down. The North Carolina EM Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) requires the County to maintain the satellite phone system. The State of NC funds the project through the annual Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) process, .but it is the department's (Orange County Emergency Services) to move the hardware from the previous E911/EOC site (1914 New Hope Church Road) and reinstall it in the new Emergency Services. building at the Meadowlands Drive complex. During hurricane and other region wide disaster events, the satellite phone proved to be critical in maintaining communications and coordinating efforts moving during widespread landline outages. NCDOT Highway Safety Camera System: The NC Department of Transportation allows access to their network of traffic cameras to assist public safety with monitoring traffic along major highways and interstates. During recent events the system could have been used to keep first responders on I-40 and I-85 apprised of several important factors: 1) a vehicle driving the wrong way down I-40; 2) a hazardous chemical spill; 3) a vehicle accident along I-40 alerting first responders to respond from a specific exit/entrance to speed aid to the victims; and 4) keeping law enforcement updated during a chase along I-85. The system will reside in the E911 Communications Center to monitor roadway situations and more effectively route emergency response vehicles to major accident scenes. Weather conditions such as flooding, fog or other highway problems could also be better monitored along 1-40 and I-85 utilizing this system. 7