Leaders say this is one of a handful of 911 centers in North Carolina to feature next-generation features.
CORNELIUS, N.C. — The Cornelius 911 Emergency Communications Center has completed a major technology upgrade that town leaders say places it among only a handful of 911 centers in North Carolina operating with advanced next-generation emergency communications infrastructure.
For years, Brown County has struggled to hire people to answer 911 calls and coordinate responses to emergencies. Its emergency dispatch center was among many that grappled with worsened staffing shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic.
But as the crisis eases nationwide, major shortages still beset Brown County’s 911 center. Despite past pay raises and other efforts, the county is missing more than one in three of its needed dispatchers. Industry experts say boosting pay isn’t enough to attract dispatchers nowadays. Departments must also boost morale, get creative with hiring and training and address the mental health toll the job takes.
Billie Shepperd was planning her daughter Sheila’s 60th birthday party in June 2020 when the phone rang.
She had been imagining family members traveling from Washington, DC, to celebrate at the beach with crab legs and potato salad, when she picked up to hear Maria Shepperd, her granddaughter and Sheila’s daughter, sobbing.
Maria was alone, performing chest compressions on her mother after she had fainted and stopped breathing. The 13-year-old had called 911 — like tens of millions of people do each year when they need help — then called Billie from another phone as she spoke to the dispatcher.
WAMPSVILLE, NY — For the first time, Madison County leaders are linking potential 911 connectivity issues with proposed wind farms, saying the wind turbines will interfere with 911 communications.
Madison County says the proposed Liberty Renewals’ Hoffman Falls Wind Project will greatly impact public safety.
WENATCHEE — RiverCom 911 has received a key approval from the state’s Project Review Committee, clearing the way for the agency to move forward with planning a new emergency communications facility. The committee gave unanimous support for RiverCom to use a General Contractor/Construction Manager (GC/CM) delivery method—an approach that brings contractors into the planning process before design is finalized.
RiverCom officials say this early collaboration is critical for a 911 center, where the system must function seamlessly from day one. By identifying potential issues early, GC/CM helps avoid delays, cut down on costly changes, and ensure taxpayer money is used efficiently.
