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.”
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.”
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.