Putnam County
Emergency Management Agency
Director, Steven J. Odenweller
Asst. Director, Josh Walters
Updated last on August 16, 2007
Ohio EMA News Releases / FEMA News Releases
Terrorism Advisory Board
Arnie Hardy, Glen Arnold, Jan Osborn, John Love, Karen Vorst,
Bob Heidenscher, Ruth Gerding, James Buetler, Josh Walters, Steve Odenweller
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Homeland Security Warning System The warning system has five levels starting with green, the lowest alert level, followed by blue, then yellow, orange and red, the highest state of alert. Each code will trigger specific actions by federal agencies and state and local governments.
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Ohio Emergency Management Association
FEMA's Website / Ohio EMA Website
Warning Devices and Communications
Federal Informers, located in every school and sirens from a variety of manufactures are located in various areas within Putnam County. Click on the weather page to see sirens quadrants.
Warning Devices utilized in Putnam County
Putnam County uses several means of warning the public and special interest groups. These different types of warning devices are activated during times of severe weather for Watches and Warnings that are issued by the National Weather Service.
One type of warning device is the alert monitor. These devices are used in several factories and other facilities throughout Putnam County. These devices are activated as soon as a Watch or Warning message is received from the National Weather Service. The Putnam County Office of Public Safety wishes to expand this warning system into all the local factories and other locations where a large amount of people will benefit from it's alert.
Recently the Putnam County Office of Public Safety received a 50/50 Grant from FEMA/OEMA to install a completely new Warning & Notification Communications System. This new radio system will have the capability to send several types of paging formats. Including the ever so popular "Alphanumeric", which is text sent to a display pager. This kind of technology will allow the Office of Public Safety to quickly send text messages out to School Administration about Severe Weather and Road Conditions. But the system isn't limited to only schools. Many others will benefit from the addition of this new system to include but not limited to Fire Departments, EMS Chief's and Officers, Law Enforcement Personnel, EMA Staff, Skywarn Members (Amateur Radio Operators), Health Department employees, and many others. This system is so versatile that it can send messages from several sources via radio, telephone, or computer and modem dial-up. Future plans call for an integration of 911 CAD information to be forwarded to the paging terminal and sent to Fire and EMS Chiefs as well as to receivers in the Emergency Vehicles for a particular department when dispatched to an emergency.
If your group or facility is interested in obtaining information about the Putnam County Warning and Notification Communications System, feel free to call us at 419-523-3152 or email at ema2@pcops.org
Another type and a more visible and audible alerting device is the Community Warning Siren. The Office of Public Safety is currently working to upgrade, replace and add new sirens and controllers throughout the county. This year Fort Jennings and Miller City recently took delivery of sirens and controllers, both are radio remote controlled by county authorities. The Office of Public Safety hopes to have all the sirens radio controlled within the next couple of years, plus add several new sirens around the county in areas where new housing developments have been built.
Currently in Putnam County the Villages of Fort Jennings, Dupont, Miller City, Ottoville, Ottawa and Pandora all have radio remote controlled sirens. Remember that these sirens are tested on the Second Monday of every month at 10:00A.M., if there is a threat of or severe weather occurring at the time of the regularly scheduled test, the test will be postponed until the next good weather day. This test allows the recipients to check that the device works and is ready to alert them in the time of a severe weather emergency. If you have questions regarding the warning devices in Putnam County, or would like more information, please feel free to contact us at ema2@pcops.org
Read Putnam County Emergency Operations Plan
Last Updated On: 09/18/2007