— New tools such as the Internet and cell phones will help responders take care of residents during disasters, said Jimmy Moore, Muskogee County Emergency Management director.

“Technology has come a long way,” Moore said Thursday. “Less people have land lines. We can use the new ‘smart’ phones to keep in touch.”

Moore said that the citizens of Muskogee will see a major upgrade when the new 911 telephone system is completed.

A three-day event that included approximately 50 emergency responders from northeastern Oklahoma will conclude today at the Muskogee Civic Center. The event includes training on new techniques, laws, funding methods and rapid advances in communication technology. The training will help emergency response personnel learn better how to handle tornados, floods, ice storms and fires.

Albert Ashwood, director of emergency management for Oklahoma and a native of Muskogee, gave a detailed presentation during the morning.

James Nichols, emergency management coordinator for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, said he attended to keep up to date.

“This gave me an opportunity to network with emergency managers within my jurisdiction,” he said. “It was a good refresher for me. I’ve been able to learn about a few of the changes that have been happening in Oklahoma emergency management.”

Moore said he was glad to see the number of questions asked during the morning session.

“This has been a great networking tool for us,” he said. “We’ve all seen a lot of new faces today. That’s important because we may need their help some day. We are getting a chance to talk about the kind of issues we all deal with on a daily basis.”

Ashwood’s presentation covered the four phases of an emergency response; preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.

One issue he noted was a shortage of responders with training. Current requirements are that the person be a U.S. citizen, have a high school diploma or equivalent, have a valid Oklahoma driver’s license, provide a Social Security number, and not have a felony conviction in Oklahoma. They also have to complete basic training within one year of appointment.

Ashwood also emphasized the need for a continuity-of-operation plan if a disaster causes a loss of government structure.

Like others at the event, he spoke about the need for all emergency personnel to learn how to take advantage of the ways people communicate nowadays.

“Twitter and Facebook are something we need to look at,” he said. “It’s a different world. We need to be ready.”

Gary Dotson, director of the Tahlequah/Cherokee County Emergency Management, has a staff of about 25 volunteers. He said computers have revolutionized emergency management, and he was glad he attended.

“I’ve been in this business for 25 years,” he said. “This has been a good refresher. There were several new directors here; I saw a lot of young faces. Much of what we are concerned about is our state and federal funding.”