FAQ’s

1. I have an emergency, who do I call?
   • Call 9-1-1.
2. Where are you located?
   • 211 West Commercial Street, Ozark, AR 72949—in the Courthouse basemen, in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) next door to the County Judge’s Office.
3. When are you open?
   • Technically we are open from 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM Monday – Friday. However, we are often in and out of the office in meetings and responding to different emergency calls.
4. How can I contact you?
   • Please visit the contact page at 479-667-4909 If you don’t know who you need ask to speak with, ask for Rick.
5. Where do I get a 9-1-1 address?
   • Call 479-667-2415, the Franklin County Assessor’s Office, located at 219 West Main Street in Ozark.
6. What phone number do I call to find out about paying my ambulance bill?
   • Call 479-667-4900 and speak with Keri Jo King the EMS Director.
7. Where do I pay my Fire Dues?
   • If you just need to know how to get in touch with your Fire Chief, you can go to our Fire Services webpage https://fcoem.org/fire/fire-services/ and find your department and it will list the dues amount and where to send them. If you are not sure what Fire District you are in, feel free to give us a call and we will be glad to help you figure that out.
8. Who do I call about County Road damage?
   • Call the County Judge’s Office at 479-667-4726.
9. How can I find out what the Road Conditions are during hazardous weather?
   • Go to idrivearkansas.com (this works great on smart phones!) or call 501-569-2374
10. Can I get a rebate on my storm shelter?
    • At this time, NO, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) in Little Rock is not accepting any more applications. They only accepted applications on shelters that were built between January 21, 1999 – June 30, 2015. The first set of checks from the last round were just sent out in the last week of July 2016.
11. Where are the Public Storm Shelters?
    • The Public Storm Shelters are located a , the Ozark Middle School, Ozark Middle School in Altus, the Charleston High School, and the Denning City Hall – Juanita Burns Community Building
12. Is it going to storm? How can I find out?
    • There are several ways to stay informed of the weather. We recommend looking at the Tulsa National Weather Service webpage at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa/, enrolling in CodeRed (its free!) https://fcoem.org/code-red/ and/or getting a NOAA Weather Radio. If you are interested in becoming part of the spotter network you can also work toward getting your Ham Technician License https://fcoem.org/amateur-radio/ . Please contact Rick Covert at rcovert.911@franklin-ar.us for more information.
13. What do I need to put in an emergency kit?
    • There are several different kinds of emergency kits, depending upon your location when an emergency strikes. At minimum we recommend keeping one at home with supplies for each person in the home. You can learn about how to put this (and the other types of emergency kits) together at https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit . Here is a Basic Disaster Supplies Kit Checklist to get you started.
14. What happens if I get lost and how long will it take you to find me?
    • If you are lost, you can actually help us find you faster! If you are going hiking, check the weather before you go and leave a Hiking Plan with family or friends with a map of where you plan to be. If you become lost, stay put if possible or, if you must move, leave indicators of your direction. Carry a whistle to signal searchers—in fact we have a list of a few essentials we recommend folks carry on our Recreation You may be asked to call 9-1-1 more than once so that we can pinpoint your location. If you are part of a group—stay together! One group is much easier to find than several. Overall, please try to avoid further hazards and be patient—depending upon your location and the difficulty to reach you it may take some hours to reach you. Before you go out, learn about your environment and be safe!
15. What do I do if one of my loved ones goes missing?
    • If someone goes missing, do a quick search (of the home, yard, etc.) and then call 9-1-1. Please cooperate with the responders as they gather information to better direct the search.
16. Where can I learn about boating safety and hunting safety?
    • The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission gives free Boaters Education and Hunters Education Classes. For more information and to find out when and where these are, go to http://www.agfc.com/education/Pages/default.aspx . Always wear your safety gear!
17. How can I help or volunteer in my community?
    • Thank a Responder—responders put their lives on the line and hearing that they are appreciated does mean a lot. There are so many ways to help and volunteer in the community. One way is to be sure to pay your fire dues. Our local Volunteer Fire Departments depend on this to be able to keep equipment running and up to date to keep us safe. You can also join your local fire department! If interested, just click on our Fire Services page and select your department to find their contact information. You could join the SAR Team. If interested, contact Rick Covert at (479) 667-4909 or rcovert.911@franklin-ar.us . If you are interested in helping out through Red Cross, contact Jaison Scott at (479) 633-8330. If you attend church, check and see if they participate in any of the programs that are already set up such as donating to the local food bank at the Methodist Church on Commercial Street.