Data Management Branch
Mark Morrill, Branch Chief
(614) 889-7157
mmorrill@dps.state.oh.us
Data Management is responsible for the maintenance of all Ohio EMA Emergency Operations Center/Joint Dispatch Facility computers and software.
Ohio EMA OpsCenter™ Resource Database
This website is a limited version of Alert Technologies Corporation OpsCenter™ software and is hosted and maintained by the Ohio EMA. It is designed to allow a user organization who does not currently own or does not plan to implement their own version of OpsCenter™ the ability to organize their resources and resource sources into the NIMS typing scheme. It also allows user organizations the ability to mark their resources as "Shared" making them viewable to all users of this system. Future plans are to include the ability to share information across additional OpsCenter™ owners.
Data Capture Worksheet - This Spreadsheet is designed to allow an emergency management organization to organize their resources into the NIMS typing scheme for import into OpsCenter™. The Spreadsheet does not try to provide all of the capability necessary to actually manage resource usage during emergencies, it is merely a tool to help you categorize your resources in accordance with the NIMS Typing scheme.
EMA Weather Paging
The Ohio EMA weather paging systems allows county emergency managers and other first responders to receive severe weather warnings over pagers cell phones, email and other wireless devices. In 2005, the system was redesigned to provide more clear and timely warnings. The system's reliability was improved and maintenance requirements were reduced. The system is also much more flexible in the type of warnings that can be sent and adding new warnings as needed.
OpsCenter™
The automated management of emergency response is carried out in the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC) using a software product called OpsCenter™. The EOC was upgraded and several configuration changes were made in 2005 to align the software to the business practices used by the state in managing emergencies. Through homeland security funds, the roll out of the OpsCenter™ into county EOCs for county use in managing emergencies is underway in 20 counties. Additional counties are to be added with Fiscal Year 06 funds.
SAIC
The Strategic Analysis Information Center opened in the Emergency Operation Center/Joint Dispatch Facility. Ohio EMA coordinated the setup of the SAIC office and oversaw the purchase and set up of SAIC computer information sharing and computer systems.
Emergency Operation Center computer upgrades
Efficient operation of hardware in the Emergency Operation Center ( EOC ) is vital to the effective state coordination of emergency response. As part of our equipment upgrade program for the center, 28 computers in the Assessment and Operations room were replaced and an additional six computers were added to improve information flow in the assessment and executive room software.
Software and database development
To improve grants tracking, an automated tracking and online grants application tool was developed. This grants database will streamline the grant application process and provide grant managers with the tools needed for programmatic and fiscal grant management and reporting.
Network updating
In 2005, Ohio EMA completed a restructuring of its day-to-day and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) data network. As part of this restructuring network security was improved through the addition of enhanced firewalls and intrusion detection. Hardware upgrades provide for greater network speed and higher reliability.