Norman Emergency Management is opening its doors to the public with an open house event scheduled for February 15 from 12:30 to 2:30 PM. The gathering will take place at the new Emergency Communications and Operations Center located at 2801 E. Robinson. Not only geared towards emergency preparedness affiliates, but the entire community is invited to get an insider's look at the training and disaster operation facilities now at their disposal, according to the City of Norman.
The open house signals a period of transition for Norman's Emergency Management, which has recently settled into the purpose-built Emergency Communications and Operations Center after operating out of the Fire Training Center by Max Westheimer Airport. These past quarters had its share of limitations, making it a challenge to create apt training spaces and achieve the necessary communication capabilities. "Having a facility of our own allows our operation to function without conflict of other use, which is imperative," David Grizzle, Emergency Management Coordinator, told the City of Norman in a released statement.
One of the Emergency Communications and Operations Center's crowning achievements is its auxiliary communications room, a resource allowing connectivity across diverse radio bands and interfaces with multiple agencies. It's a significant community asset that strengthens communication for Federal, State, Local, and Tribal agencies within Norman. The creation and enhancement of the auxiliary communications represents a crossroads where volunteer commitment intersects critical infrastructure development, as per the City of Norman.
Volunteer efforts have played an important role in bringing this capability to fruition, with local amateur radio aficionado Lea Greenleaf (W5HLG) at the forefront. Assisting as the Amateur Radio Liaison for the South Canadian Amateur Radio Society, Greenleaf has poured countless volunteer hours into designing, sourcing, and installing necessary equipment. "He has devoted many hours of volunteer labor to the design, procurement and installation of the equipment, and we are grateful for his dedication to the project," Grizzle expressed his gratitude in a statement forwarded to the City of Norman.
