COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has deployed staff and communications equipment from the state’s Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) to assist recovery efforts in Asheville, North Carolina, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The MARCS network, which connects first responders across Ohio during emergencies, will now support disaster response teams in western North Carolina.

“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.”

OLD FORT, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 30: Flood damage is seen along Mill Creek in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 30, 2024 in Old Fort, North Carolina. According to reports, at least 90 people have been killed across the southeastern U.S., and millions are without power due to the storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday. The White House has approved disaster declarations in North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama, freeing up federal emergency management money and resources for those states. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

As part of the relief efforts, the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) MARCS team is sending an 80-foot Tower on Wheels (TOW), a cache of radios, and a portable generator to ensure communications remain intact during the recovery process. Two members from the Ohio Telecommunicator Emergency Response Task Force will accompany the equipment. The mobile tower can be operational within an hour of arrival, boosting the communication network for emergency personnel in the affected area.

“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.”

LAKE LURE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 28: Heavy machinery clears a road as the Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure, carrying debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina after heavy rains caused by Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024, in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Approximately six feet of debris piled on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking access. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

Ohio’s contribution is aimed at enhancing communication infrastructure for first responders, a vital element in coordinating emergency services and ensuring public safety as North Carolina begins to recover from the hurricane’s aftermath.