The vehicle is a 2004 Damon Daybreak, bought at a reduced price through the co-operation with Lee’s RV Center in Morris, IN. The RV was remodeled to meet the special needs for a command center by Lee’s RV.  The shower was changed into storage and the bedroom was converted into a communications center and office.

The emergency lighting and basic communications equipment were installed by Mobilcomm of Cincinnati, OH. Much of the additional work of installing portable antennas, weather station, computers, etc was done by RCEMA personnel.

The new Incident Command Vehicle ( ICV) is equipped with an onboard 5500 watt generator, heating and cooling, and restroom. There are radios installed at the drivers area for use reroute to the scene, including VHF and 800 mhz.

The communications room includes a 2m amateur radio, 220 band amateur radio, 800 mhz radio, two vhf high radios , a 100 channel scanner, weather station, computer, cell phone, fax machine, and  needed office equipment and supplies.

www.rcema.com 

The Ripley County Emergency Management Agency is a local government office with primary responsibility to plan, train, respond and recover from any disaster, man-made or natural, that may affect the lives and property of Ripley County citizens.

The RCEMA works under the Ripley Co. Board of Commissioners and has offices in the Sheriff’s/911/EMA building. The RCEMA operates with a staff of 8 and about 40 volunteers in various capacities, including the R.A.C.E.S. amateur radio personnel, and the severe weather safety area managers.

The RCEMA was successful in obtaining almost a half million dollars in federal grants for Ripley County since 2003. Much of that is funding a new 800 mhz public safety radio system, that is in everyday use by all local police and sheriff’s deputies.

The RCEMA works with other emergency service agencies in Ripley and surrounding counties. RCEMA is a coordinating agency, and does not come in to “take over” any situation. RCEMA can provide support assistance to on-scene agencies, such as remote communications, command center, portable radios and batteries, evacuation supplies, rehab for responders, traffic assistance, shelter communications. One main role of an EMA agency is damage assessment and RCEMA is trained to handle that task.

Services provided by
Ripley County Emergency Management Agency 

• Severe weather classes for emergency personnel and public spotters. Over 500 people have attended classes in the past five years.
  
• Annual advanced weather seminar with Dr. David Arnold of Ball State University.
  
• Hazardous materials awareness and operations training.
  
• Incident command and response training.
  
• Emergency communications training.
  
• Shelter communications.
  
• Hazardous materials on scene assistance to responding agencies.
  
• Damage assessment and reporting for state and federal assistance in disasters.
  
• Coordination between local, state, and federal agencies.
  
• Emergency planning for all hazards including the Ripley County Emergency Operations Plan and Terrorism Plan.
  
• Response to emergencies including: tornado, flooding, storm damage, lost persons, explosions and hazardous materials.
  
• Obtaining resources from the state of Indiana.

R.C.E.M.A. Staff /Volunteers Positions

• Director
• Deputy Director
• Operations Officer
• Public Information Officer
• Communications Officer
• Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) Officer
• Shelter Officer
• Haz Mat Officer

Communications Support Personnel


• RACES volunteers
• Severe weather safety managers


Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service

R.A.C.E.S. is authorized service of licensed amateur radio operators, granted permission by the F.C.C. to assist emergency management in times of disaster. R.A.C.E.S. volunteers must be 18 years of age, possess a valid F.C.C. Amateur Radio license of Technician or above and pass a criminal background check before they can apply for possible appointment by the county EMA Director. R.A.C.E.S. is activated by the Director and serves under orders of the staff.

Ripley Co. EMA R.A.C.E.S. volunteers attend training annually in emergency communications, hazmat, damage assessment and many other facets of emergency management.




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Contact Information
Please convey any questions or concerns to the RCEMA