I live in Delaware Ohio which is a growing suburb of Columbus and located in Delaware County.

I live in Delaware Ohio which is a growing suburb of Columbus and located in Delaware County.

I live in Delaware, Ohio, which is a growing suburb of Columbus and located in Delaware County. Currently, the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency office is serving as our EOC for Delaware County at 10 Court Street in Delaware, OH. DelcoEMA, as it is known, has the vital role of coordinating emergency protective measures throughout the county, including daily updates that include the “latest numbers in the state, news from the daily press conferences, as well as resources pertinent to emergency management response”, (EMAO, 2020). Additionally, the DelcoEMA is responsible for the collection and distribution of PPE and other medically necessary items throughout the county to “reduce the impact of COVID-19,” (Delaware Health, 2020). Donations of medical items like N95 masks, face shields, surgical gowns, nitrile gloves, thermometers, and disinfecting wipes are being collected in coordination with the Delaware General Health District. The only MOU currently in effect is between the DelcoEMA and numerous county organizations, such as COMH and local police, to coordinate and provide support and intervention for those in a crisis of violence or mental health. This is significant because it provides a resource to the disabled, mentally ill, or those abused by them during the Ohio stay at home order.

The largest difference I’ve observed between federal and state response to COVID-19 is the areas they’re focused on. Federally, the government is focused on a broader scope with the increasing restrictions of travel in and out of the country to slow the spread or introduction of more infected. The government is also concerned with the financial welfare of the country by extending deadlines on loans for homes and college tuition, as well as passing a bill in record time to distribute stimulus checks to 90% of the people in the U.S. to help boost the economy and pay bills. While Gov. DeWine has similarly focused on travel issues, the large focus has been more close to home with shelter-in-place orders, school closures, limiting store occupancy, and the state closing of all restaurants, bars, salons, tattoo parlors, movie theaters, sporting arenas, etc… to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus. This pandemic has obviously affected all of us who are TU students as we have to finish our semester in quarantine rather than on campus in class. On a more personal level, as a cancer survivor, this virus has caused me to be housebound regardless of what quarantine orders are or aren’t in effect. I am immunosuppressed due to the years of chemo, and this virus could be fatal for me. However, my family is very fortunate that my dad is a long haul truck driver, and therefore an essential employee, and able to keep working to pay the bills right now. Yet we are all also afraid that he is at a much higher risk of infection because he travels through every state across the country.

The attached photo is of People In Need, (PIN), a local Delaware,OH non profit organization that provides free groceries and bill assistance to those in need. They are still helping county residents during this pandemic.

Davis, D. (2020, March 27). Votes are in: Lawmakers extend primary. Delaware Gazette.

https://www.delgazette.com/news/82832/votes-are-in-lawmakers-extend-primary

Delaware Health. (20, April 9). COVID-19 – Delaware general health district. Delaware General

Health District – Dedicated to Your Health. https://delawarehealth.org/covid-19/

EMAO. (2020, April 6). COVID-19 response. Emergency Management Association of Ohio.

https://www.emaohio.org/covid-19-response/