Shift Change

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Ohio TERT conducted a shift change at Buncombe County and the City of Asheville. (8) personnel comprising Team TERT-OH-2 departed from Cambridge early Tuesday morning following Monday evening rally point rendezvous. Team 2 represents PSAPs around the state: (2) from the Chagrin Valley Dispatch COG, (3) from Southwest Emergency Dispatch – Stongsville, and (1) each from Summit ECC, CECOMS in Cuyahoga County, and the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office. As is the case with Team OH-1, these personnel originate from large metro centers and smaller rural places. And, all but 1 are first time deployers. But, they are all endorsed by their home agencies, and have completed and in many cases exceeded the minimum training requirements for deployment. These first, first responders represent the best of their agencies and communities, and the State of Ohio. What unites our team is the push to help each other. The name on the chest or shoulder patch do not matter- the team is at it’s heart a group of dispatchers who are helping other dispatchers.

Team 2 arrived in Asheville Tuesday afternoon, got settled, and had dinner to get to know their Team 1 counterparts. They talked through their experiences thus far, both operationally and logistically. Call volume on the information line that HAVOC is covering is steady, but lower than went it came online in the first few days after arrival. Also, personnel from Georgia TERT and Nebraska TERT have departed, which will create an increased need for manpower at the Buncombe County PSCC. It is expected that personnel from Team 2 will be working more shifts at the 911 center than they will be handling the information line aboard HAVOC. And, while recovery operations continue, normal life continues. Call volume that is not Helene related remains just as high as well.  While progress is certainly being made, there is quite a long way to go. Sections of Interstates 26 and 40 remain closed, and power and water are still out in parts of the metro area. Additionally, due to false information being spread around, an increased law enforcement presence has also occurred, both in the community, and at the camp where the team is. All of our personnel are safe, but resources and personnel are being diverted to deal with this when they are absolutely needed elsewhere.

Team 1 departed Wednesday morning following a couple group pictures and goodbye hugs. For some personnel on Team 1, this was a (17) day deployment, that included periods without water, electric, or hot food. Their efforts and those of their other state TERT counterparts really set the tone to enable OH-2 and other TERT personnel who will deploy (another EMAC request was placed today for more telecommunicators) to pick up where they left off.

We offer thanks and gratitude to Team OH-1, who have earned some down time. We likewise acknowledge the logistics team that shepherded OH-2 to the front line safely and returned OH-1 to their families and loved ones- 1,100 miles over 2 days in total. And, we offer our best wishes to OH-2 and those personnel from OH-1 who remained for an additional 2 weeks to help. We also gratefully shout-out to Candie Cunningham and R&R Identification (see earlier post)- the hoodies have come in handy- night time temperatures have been in the 30’s.

All hands are working.