Resident Honored for Emergency Management Volunteer Services:

Osage Beach - Johnson County Emergency Management Agency volunteer Rick Ebbesen received the 2017 State of Missouri Volunteer of the Year award at the Show-Me Partnership symposium held at Tan-Tar-A Resort. Agency staff nominated Ebbesen, who serves as the emergency coordinator for the Johnson County Amateur Radio Emergency Services, for "his dedication, contributions and achievements in the field of emergency management." EMA Executive Director Gloria Brandenburg said Ebbeson began volunteering in 2002 when she headed up the American Red Cross office here. When she became employed with the county, Ebbeson shared his time between the two agencies until the Red Cross office closed. Since then, he has devoted his volunteer service to the EMA. The nomination letter states that Ebbeson personally funded the Johnson County ARES trailer that has multiple capabilities, including public service and amateur radio communications with an expandable mast for antennas and a mobile camera capable of tying into the"mesh network" that he established in Johnson County. The mesh network serves as a conduit for two signals from four cameras located on elevated tower sites in the county that are utilized for "situational awareness" primarily during severe weather. The network is capable of transmitting data, including a text messaging service and Voice Over IP protocol, with the goal of using VoIP at key locations throughout the county in the near future. Ebbesen currently is assisting the EMA with the transition from the simplex radio communications frequencies to a repeater system to provide better countywide radio coverage for the agency. Ebbesen said his interest in emergency management dovetails with his interest in emergency communications and amateur radio.

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