HAZMAT TECHICIAN REFRESHER, OPERATIONS REFRESHER, OPERATIONS (NEW) OR AWARENESS (NEW) CLASSES - University of Findlay will be conducting these classes on August 23rd from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Jackson FD DC Annex. You need to only attend one of the Saturday courses.

PREPARDNESS & RESPONSE TO AGRICULTURAL TERRORISM - August 26th thru 28th, 2008 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day at the OSU Extension - South District Office, 17 Standpipe Rd., Jackson, Ohio. This is a FREE three day course taught by instructors from the National Center for Biomedical Research & Training, Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education, Louisiana State University. This course provides participants with the following strategies: 1) prevent or deter agricultural terrorism; 2) prepare for threat of or actual attack on food supply; and 3) prepare recovery operations if attack occurs. For registration forms or more information contact Jackson County EMA at ema@jcema.org of call (740) 286-5630.

AMATEUR (HAM) RADIO OPERATORS TECHNICIAN LEVEL COURSE - Saturday, August 30th and Saturday, September 6th, 2008 at the Jackson County Health Department Conference Room 210 located at 200 E. Main St., Jackson, Ohio. Class starts at 10:00 AM each day. Cost for the course is $ 24.95 for the textbook and a $ 14.00 testing fee which is submitted to ARRL for FCC certification. Textbook and testing fees will be required to be paid in advance.  Contact Doug Tilley at (740) 286-5470 or e-mail at him at lonewolfdt@Hotmail.com  or contact the Jackson County EMA at 286-5630 for more information and to register.

HOCKING VALLEY REGIONAL FIRE SCHOOL - Sunday, September 7th, 2008 at the Jackson High School, Jackson. Registration to begin at 7:00 AM. Introductions and classes to begin at 8:00 AM. The tentative courses to be offered are as follows: 1) Class A Foam Operations; 2) Chlorine Emergencies; 3) Rural Water Movement; 4) Auto Extrication; 5) Propane Emergencies; 6) Emergency Vehicle Driving; 7) Pump Operations; 8) Incident Command Tabletop Exercises and 9) Flashover Trailer (this course will be limited in size and there will be additional fees to take this course). Registration forms, department and student costs, and t-shirt information will be sent throughout the region to all fire departments over the next few months. Contact Jackson County EMA for more information. EACH FIRE DEPARTMENT ATTENDING IS ASKED TO PLEASE BRING A DOOR PRIZE. VARIOUS VENDORS WILL ALSO BE SUPPLYING DOOR PRIZES.

OHIO VALLEY FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION WILL NOT BE CONDUCTING A FIRE SCHOOL IN 2008. ACCORDING TO OVFFA OFFICERS, IT WAS DECIDED THAT FIRE SCHOOLS WILL NOT BE CONDUCTED IN FAVOR OF SINGLE COURSES TO BE CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.    

ICS 300 - September 9th & 10th, 13th & 14th and again on the 20th & 21st from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM each day. This is three different date offerings of the two day ICS 300 level course to be conducted by the Vinton County EMA. Course location is at the Vinton County Community Building basement, next to the Vinton County Health Department on SR 93 in McArthur. Contact the Vinton County EMA at (740) 596-3524 for more details.

INCIDENT RESPONSE TO TERRORIST BOMBINGS (IRTB) / PREVENTION & RESPONSE TO SUICIDE BOMBING INCIDENTS (PRSBI) - Saturday, September 13, 2008 at the Lawrence County Firefighters' Association 2008 Fire School. Contact Lawrence Co. EMA for more details and to register, at (740) 533-4375. This is the same course that Jackson Co. EMA is hosting on August 16th.

Lawrence County Firefighters' Association 2008 Fire School - September 13th & 14th. Courses to include - 1) Swift water Awareness; 2) CPR/AED; 3) Class A Foam; 4) Emergency Vehicle Operations / Train-the-Trainer; 5) Confined Space Rescue; 6) Breathing Air / SCBA; 7) Chlorine Emergencies; and 8) Public Information Officer (PIO). Contact Lawrence Co. EMA for more details and to register, at (740) 533-4375.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) BASIC & ADVANCED WEATHER SPOTTERS CLASS - Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Jackson County Health Department Conference Room. This course is open to everyone. Contact Jackson County EMA for more details.

CONFINED SPACE BASIC REFRESHER CLASS - September 27th, 2008. Cleveland State will conduct a confined space rescue refresher course on this date. Contact David Channell for more information.

NWS STORM SURVEY CLASS - Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Jackson County Health Department Conference Room. This course is open to persons whom have already had the Basic and/or Advanced Weather Spotters course. This course focuses on training emergency response personnel on determining the difference between tornados, straight winds and microburst types of damage. Any CERT Team members and/or Ham Radio operators whom have taken a Damage Assessment course are encouraged to take this class. Contact Jackson County EMA for more details.

New Web Address For FEMA Self Study Courses - FEMA has a new web address for their independent study courses.  It is www.learningservices.us/FEMA/LMS.  There are a variety of courses available including hazardous materials, National Incident Management System (NIMS), incident command, and disaster exercises. 

'Safety for Emergency Responders' DVD - This DVD was provided by American Electric Power and addresses issues around downed power wires, removing meters, putting out electrical fires and reporting hazards.  A copy of the DVD is available for loan from the Jackson County EMA or a free copy can be obtained from Jina Duplain, AEP, by calling 1-330-438-7838.     

Jackson County EMA, LEPC and the Jackson County Emergency Response (HAZMAT) Team- These organizations have many hazardous materials, confined space rescue, incident management, instructions on equipment usage, etc. DVDs, videotapes or CDs from Emergency Film Group, Ohio EMA, the State Fire Marshal's Office and others.