WESTGATE@CRANE Technology Park, (Odon) Indiana — Representatives from Naval Support Activity Crane and the installation’s neighboring communities marked the successful completion and implementation of the 911 Emergency Dispatch Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the White River Military Coordination Alliance’s second-quarter meeting.
The MOA was established in September 2020 to coordinate and transfer 911 calls originating from NSA Crane from the county Dispatch Centers to the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Dispatch Center. Because of the MOA, emergency calls that originate on NSA Crane base from cell phones may now be routed through the area counties and over to the installation. This routing is intended to reduce response times and increase opportunities for mutual aid between Crane and surrounding communities.
“The safety of our personnel and the surrounding community is always at the forefront of what we do in supporting the warfighter here at Crane,” said CDR James Smith, Commanding Officer at NSA Crane. “I’m excited about the future as NSA Crane and the surrounding counties will continue to partner on this great effort through bi-annual testing and validation of operational procedures and evaluation of potential joint-training opportunities.”
The MOA is between the Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, NSA Crane, and the 911 Dispatch Centers in Greene, Martin, Daviess, and Lawrence Counties. Local emergency responders also attended the celebration to express their appreciation.
“This initiative will reduce delays in dispatch, facilitate communication between the county 911 Dispatcher and Navy Dispatcher, and allow for county/Navy mutual aid,” said Brianne Jerrels, chair of the Alliance. “The collaboration between Crane and the surrounding counties is, in part, made possible by the Alliance, whose mission is to establish effective, timely means of communication between the community and Crane to coordinate opportunities and address concerns.”
During the meeting, Alliance members were briefed on a number of other initiatives including:
- Crane Regional Defense Group: A subcommittee of the White River Military Coordination Alliance was established in 2020 as a grassroots effort to expand community support and advocate for Crane at the local and federal level. Businesses may join to support local outreach and legislative initiatives. The group will hold its first event in August.
- Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) webinar series: The next IGSA webinar in June will focus on a deeper-dive into service agreements that are available to communities currently with NSA Crane.
- PFAS investigations at NSA Crane: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), man-made chemicals used in stain and water resistant fabrics and firefighting foam, was deemed an “emerging” contaminant by the Environmental Protection Agency. NSA Crane is investigating groundwater monitoring sites on the installation to identify any contaminated areas, and will keep the community updated on findings.
- Memorial Day Event at NSA Crane: After the annual event was cancelled last year due to COVID-19, area residents will be welcomed back to NSA Crane this year to pay respects to family members buried at the installation’s 28 cemeteries. Families and visitors are invited to meet at the Crane Visitor’s Center between 9am-12noon on May 31, 2021.
The next quarterly Alliance meeting will take place in August.
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About the White River Military Coordination Alliance: The Alliance is a community organization that was formed in 2018 to promote positive development and growth in the communities that surround Naval Support Activity Crane and Lake Glendora Test Facility (Daviess, Greene, Lawrence, Martin and Sullivan counties) by facilitating two-way communication between the communities, counties, state agencies, and NSA Crane. The focus of our 24-member alliance is to create opportunities for economic prosperity and land conservation in the region, safeguard Crane’s military mission, and protect community health and safety. We would encourage the community to take our survey about Crane at WRMCAlliance.com. Follow the Alliance on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.