[ARRL-OK] Okmulgee County Emergency Management is Awarded Grant to Help Track Storm Spotters

[Mark Conklin via ARRL-OK]

FYI:  About the media release below.


Several area radio amateurs helped Okmulgee County Emergency Management with the planing of the grant project noted in the media release below:  ARES-Oklahoma EC for Okmulgee County Jason Dawson KF5KFB, the Regional ARES-OK leader Ben Joplin WB5VST, ARES-OK Volunteer Andrew McCullough KE5WPH, and ARES-OK SEC Mark Conklin N7XYO.


This Grant Award will allow for the install of a APRS-I Gate, several APRS digipeaters, and several portable APRS beacons.

Working with as partners, together we are able to serve our community through Amateur Radio.  


Mark Conklin, N7XYO
Oklahoma Section Emergency Coordinator
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
918.232.8346
n7xyo at arrl.net
Follow me on Twitter @N7XYO

http://www.aresok.org/

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MEDIA RELEASE
 
OKMULGEE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
110 N. ALABAMA AVE.
OKMULGEE, OK 74447
918/759-9984 OFFICE
918/759-9901 FAX
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
May 12, 2014
 
CONTACT:
Timothy D. Craighton, Director

 
RE: Okmulgee County Emergency Management is Awarded Grant to Help Track Storm Spotters 


OKMULGEE, OK - The Okmulgee County Emergency Management has been awarded $3,670.85 in a Grant award from Operation Round Up and the ECE Foundation.  

These
 funds will allow the purchase amateur radio based location tracking 
system for use by SKYWARN storm spotters in and around Okmulgee County.
 
In
 Oklahoma most SKYWARN storm spotters report their observations via 
amateur radio to local emergency management. The tracking and guiding 
storm spotters to safe observation locations during a severe weather 
events can be a challenge. 

In the late 1980’s amateur radio developed Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS).  APRS, is a system where amateur radio operators use Global Positioning 
System (GPS) receivers along with their amateur radios to report their 
locations as they move.  APRS is one of the most useful tools available 
to both SKYWARN storm spotters and emergency communications. Accurate 
positioning information is crucial when reporting information during 
severe weather events or other emergencies. APRS can also aid in 
providing accurate location information to emergency management from a 
disaster scene, especially when all other "known" landmarks may have 
been damaged or removed. 

( M O R E )

To
 benefit the citizens of Okmulgee and our neighboring counties, OCEM 
plan to construct and maintain several APRS digital repeaters systems, a
 APRS base receiving station for OCEM’s Emergency Operations Center, add
 APRS systems to several key OCEM vehicles, as well develop several 
portable APRS tracking systems.

“The
 support of community partners like East Central Electric Coop is 
critical to our efforts to service the citizens of Okmulgee County.” 
Said Tim Craighton, Director, Okmulgee County Emergency Management. 
“This grant will allow OCEM to begin to make these improvements 
immediately.”

These improved 
APRS systems in Okmulgee county are open to all licensed amateur radio 
SKYWARN storm spotters – and will be installed in locations that will be
 of benefit to the counties to the east, south and the west of Okmulgee 
county. 



Photo Attached:   Timothy D. Craighton, Director Okmulgee County Emergency Management holds up grant award check from Operation Round Up and the ECE Foundation.  



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