IDHS Emergency Preparedness and Response staff members regularly participate in FEMA and Civil Air Patrol exercises in addition to responding to state emergencies and disasters. The agency retains several vehicles for emergency operations and responses as well as for training purposes. Satellite phones have been installed in response vehicles, and a satellite dispatch system is installed in the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). These and other systems and equipment allow the department mobility that is vital when disasters strike around the state.
When not in use, some of the agency's vehicles can be requested for training or community events around Indiana:
- Requests for real-world or exercise support by emergency managers are processed through their county's assigned district liaison or the SEOC.
- Fire-training equipment is available from the Academy via the Acadis Portal.
- Event organizers may use the Special Events Request Form to request a vehicle as part of the invitation for IDHS to attend. Please note that IDHS cannot fulfill all requests, for reasons such as distance, time and resources needed.
Ham Radio
IDHS maintains a team of volunteer amateur radio operators (also known as ham radio operators) that assist when government emergency management offices need communications support, such as in the event of an infrastructure failure. Learn more about the AUXCOMM team
Agency Vehicles
Not all vehicles listed
- Mobile Command Center
Mobile Command CenterThe Mobile Command Center is on-call 24 hours a day to maintain contact between personnel in the field and the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).
At a Glance
- Satellite system for data and telephones
- Integrated telephone system to provide cell, satellite or hard-line capabilities
- System to enable interoperability and additional capability for amateur radio operations
- Accommodates a standard crew of 12, expandable to 21
- Crew consists of IDHS staff and all major response agencies and support personnel
- 21 workstations each with a designated laptop supported by two servers
- Nine radio workstations to provide each response agency with its own talk groups and mutual aid integrated into each station
Features and Capabilities
- 53 feet long
- Expandable to 15 feet wide
- Operates on a 80-kilowatt generator or stationary power
- Wireless weather station to provide constant weather updates
- 42-inch smartboard/flat screen capable of serving as a large-screen display for operational information
- 42-inch flat screen for video teleconferencing
- 52-foot telescoping mast with 360-degree tilt/pan/zoom camera capable of supporting additional antennas
- Event Coordination Center
Event Coordination CenterAt a Glance
- Fifth-wheel trailer designed with maximum workspace and limited technology capabilities
- Towed by a 3/4-ton dedicated pickup truck
- Deployed by a single individual (no CDL required)
- Capable of seating 13 personnel at workspaces, but no laptops or VOIP phones
Features and Capabilities
- 28 feet long
- Operates from either shore power or an on-board 7-kilowatt generator
- On-board HVAC system for heating and cooling
- Satellite connectivity
- Wi-Fi (state/public)
- VHF, UHF, 800/700 MHz and HAM fixed mobile radios and bank chargers available for user-supplied portable 800 MHz radios
- 20-foot manually raised mast camera with PTZ camera, on-board viewing and recording capabilities
- Two outside awnings
- ADA-compliant ramp in the rear of the trailer
- EMS Mobile Simulation Laboratory
Mobile Simulation LaboratoryAt a Glance
The Mobile Simulation Laboratory is a free educational resource available to EMS and fire instructors all over the state of Indiana. High-fidelity simulation provides instructors with the ability to expose students and seasoned EMS personnel to real-world situations in a safe environment.
For more information, visit the Sim Lab page or contact esimlab@dhs.in.gov.
Features and Capabilities
- Multiple human patient simulators