County hosting EOC open house

County residents interested in what happens when a disaster strikes the area will have the chance on Saturday, June 25.

From 2-6 p.m., Putnam County Emergency Manage-ment Agency and 911 Dispatch will host an open house at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 1600 W. CR 225 South.

Citizens will have the chance to tour the EOC facility, try their hands at amateur radio operation, learn more about severe weather and tour the mobile command vehicle housed by the Greencastle Fire Depart-ment.

"I know the public had concerns when this building was built, but when you have an emergency, you start here. This is the only EOC in west central Indiana," EMA Director Kim Hyten said.

The EOC will be in use that weekend as part of amateur radio Field Day, which runs from 2 p.m. June 25 through 2 p.m. June 26. During the 24-hour period, a team of amateur radio operators will be on site communicating with other operators from around the world.

The operators have shifts set up so testing and communication can go on continuously over the period.

Dispatch Director Dave Costin said the period of the open house is a time people with an interest amateur radio to give it a try.

"We invite amateurs to come and check it out. Also, it's a chance for the public to come and try it out," Costin said.

He added that anyone who's already a licensed operator is invited to join the team he has in place, should there services be needed in a major emergency.

"If I can get more people that can help, that would be great," Costin said.

In addition, EMA Severe Weather Specialist Chris Edwards will be on hand Saturday with severe weather education. Edwards will speak about severe weather as well as have literature on the subject.

The Greencastle Fire Department will also be at the event with tours available of the mobile command vehicle from 2-4 p.m.

"If there are people interested in seeing the EOC or the command vehicle, they should come out," Hyten said.