Texoma Emergency Communication Organization

We are the trained storm spotters for Grayson County (and surrounding counties as requested). During severe weather outbreaks we are the "boots on the ground" component of the Integrated Warning Team. Our trained storm spotters have direct communications with the National Weather Service and local Emergency Management to assist in keeping the public as safe, weather aware and forewarned as possible. As members of the Integrated Warning Team, our reports go directly to the National Weather Service office in Fort Worth, the Grayson County Office of Emergency Management, and the Emergency Management Officials of the 16 cities and towns in Grayson County. Our reports are rebroadcast by local media outlets to alert the public about severe weather hazards. Our reports are also sent to the National Weather Service in Norman, OK as needed.

We may be called upon by City, County, State or Federal agencies to assist in the event of disasters and/or search and rescue missions. We also assist with monthly testing of the outdoor warning sirens in the City of Sherman and at Grayson County College.

When called , we also assist The American Red Cross with shelter communications.

Amateur radio operators from our organization are embedded and many are cross trained with Grayson County CERT. Our organization also assists the Sherman Kiwanis Club with radio communications for their annual bike rally.

We also provide training classes and licensing sessions for people wanting to become amateur radio operators.

Members of our organization are trained Merit Badge Counselors for The Boy Scouts of America.

Our Needs

We need Operating Capital, as we are a 100% self funded volunteer organization. We need money to pay for our website, update and upkeep of our organizationally maintained radio equipment and antennas (For amateur radio repeaters, an Echolink node, a cross band repeater link and several digipeater sites in the county). All of these items are used during Skywarn operations to provide early storm warnings. Funding to assist when we are called out on missions that require meals and/or overnight stays.

Some of our equipment is aging and needs to be updated so we can continue to provide reliable amateur radio communications when all other forms of communication fail. Preliminary estimates indicate we will need to raise $5,000 within the next 12-18 months to fully overhaul this equipment. Any amounts raised above this amount will allow us to expand our communications infrastructure.