Norman Emergency Management to host Open House Event

Norman Emergency Management personnel will hold an open house event from 12:30 to 2:30 PM on 2/15/25 at the Emergency Communications and Operations Center (ECOC), 2801 E. Robinson. The event is focused on allowing the emergency preparedness partners, such as volunteer organizations active in disasters, to visit the new facility and learn the capabilities available to them for training and disaster operations. All are welcome to attend.

“We have been settling into the new facility the last few months, bringing equipment on-line and building the auxiliary communications room,” said David Grizzle, Emergency Management Coordinator. “We are looking forward to hosting this upcoming event and sharing information about how to become involved at a volunteer level.”

The Division of Emergency Management previously operated from the Fire Training Center in the area of Max Westheimer Airport, where there were sometimes challenges in creating adequate training space and reaching optimum communication capability.

“Having a facility of our own allows our operation to function without conflict of other use, which is imperative,” Grizzle said.

Grizzle believes the highlight of the new location is the auxiliary communications room (AUXCOM), which allows for communication across numerous radio bands and interface with many different agencies. AUXCOM is the citizen side of emergency communications and can support Federal, State, Local and Tribal agencies that may need a facility to operate in the Norman area. 

“Lea Greenleaf (W5HLG), Norman resident and the Amateur Radio Liaison for the South Canadian Amateur Radio Society has been instrumental in bringing this capability on-line,” Grizzle said. “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.”

Individuals seeking additional information on Amateur Radio or Emergency Management volunteer opportunities are encouraged to attend the open house or contact Grizzle at david.grizzle@normanok.gov.

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