Heartland REACT was a chapter of REACT International based in Omaha, Nebraska. It was founded in 1967 as Douglas County REACT and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1972 to provide communications as a public service in the event of emergency and non-emergency events around the Omaha metro area. The Omaha chapter of REACT International was dissolved in 2021 and the organization was reformed as Heartland READY. Purpose Heartland REACT provided communications in the event of severe weather. With over 70 trained storm spotters that rapidly deployed to relay weather and damage reports to the National Weather Service and the Douglas County and Sarpy County Emergency Management Agencies. Members were are located in three local news stations to provide meteorologists with visual reports. In the winter, such as during a blizzard, members of the 4x4 Patrol scouted roads for citizens who had encountered trouble such as accidents and driving into the ditch, and transported them to a warm, safe place until help arrived. They also provided transportation for essential hospital personnel to their place of work if they are not able to get to work safely in their own vehicles. In the event of special events as determined by local law enforcement, Heartland REACT was also called as first responders by the Omaha Police Department for missing children searches, missing endangered adults, amber alerts, and similar emergencies. Heartland REACT provided free communications services for various events such a parades, bike rides, and walks/runs in order to ensure the safety of those participating in such events. Events Communications were provided for multiple events each year. Some of the events worked were: Engineers Without Boarders Omaha Duathlon 7 Lakes Marathon NE Science Festival Omaha Women's Triathlon Flanagan Lake Triathlon O.W.L. Ride Omaha Triathlon A.F.S.P. Suicide Prevention Walk Black Squirrel Triathlon Heartland Marathon Florence Days Parade Halloween Patrol N.A.M.I. Walk Omaha Metro Heart Walk Omaha Safety Fair Communications Methods Heartland REACT used a combination of radio services to communicate. When first started, CB radios were used, but the team soon evolved into more reliable forms of communication. Citizens Band Radio In the early days of REACT, its primary purpose was to monitor Channel 9 on the Citizens' band radio for emergencies. Heartland REACT too used "Class D" CB radios. However, as the "CB craze" began to dwindle, this service was eventually discontinued. GMRS After a massive 1975 Tornado that hit Omaha, damage assessment