(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has deployed Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) staff and public safety communications equipment to Asheville, North Carolina, to assist with recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene.
“We will continue to assist Governor Cooper and the people of western North Carolina with their urgent needs in the aftermath of this storm,” said Governor DeWine.
“Ohio is providing reliable communication equipment for first responders, which is crucial during this time.”
MARCS is the wireless, digital communications network that connects Ohio first responders from multiple jurisdictions during emergencies and is managed statewide by DAS.
The DAS MARCS team will deploy a Tower on Wheels (TOW), a cache of radios, and a portable generator, along with two staff members who will travel to Asheville with the Ohio Telecommunicator Emergency Response Task Force.
The 80-foot TOWs are used to supplement coverage and/or add capacity to an area where an emergency or event is occurring. A TOW is typically ready and operational within an hour of arriving at the scene of an emergency.
“Reliable communication is critical to disaster recovery and saving lives during emergency situations,” said DAS Director Kathleen C. Madden. “We are pleased to provide staffing and equipment that will help connect first responders coordinating this response effort.”
This assistance is in addition to the activation of the Ohio National Guard to support North Carolina officials in moving supplies, equipment, and personnel, as well as aiding first responders in fatality search and recovery.
North Carolina requested this assistance from the Ohio National Guard under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which is a national mutual aid partnership agreement allowing state-to-state assistance during state or federally declared emergencies.