Crittenden County communications center struck by lightning; 911 calls routed to West Memphis (AR)

CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark. (WMC) – The Crittenden County communication center was struck by lightning Friday afternoon.

Phone lines are down following the lightning strike, causing police, medical, and fire emergency 911 to be re-routed to West Memphis.

The Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department says those calls are still being answered. Non-emergency phone lines are currently unable to be answered… READ MORE

Broadband advocates disappointed in Waldo County’s early plan for stimulus money (ME)

Waldo County officials plan to invest roughly $3 million in federal stimulus money in upgrades to emergency services infrastructure, disappointing broadband advocates in the region who were hopeful that more would be dedicated to investing in high-speed internet.

The county has received the first half of the $7.7 million award from the American Rescue Plan Act. Commissioners have said they are moving forward cautiously with their plans as they wait for more clarification from the federal government on how the money can be spent and as project estimates change due to construction costs… READ MORE

Now Hiring: Urgent need for 911 dispatchers in Rock Co. (WI)

JANESVILLE, Wis. (WMTV) – 911 dispatchers are in high demand across the country and in Rock County.

Rock County 911 Communications Center is currently hiring for seven 911 Telecommunicators.

Kathy Sukus, the 911 Communications Director, says always tough to hire people to fill thes positions but it’s become even more difficult within the last year.

“We just can’t seem to get ahead of this,” said Sukus. “We’re doing okay right now and we’re doing a lot better than other places, but I don’t want to get to a point where we’re going to have delays or things like that just because we can’t get people in here.” … READ MORE

St. Pauls leaders learn the town needs to upgrade its emergency dispatch services (NC)

Town leaders here learned Thursday an update is needed soon or the emergency services system will default to county 911 services.

St. Pauls dispatches its calls through a landline system and functions as a PSAP, or public safety answering point, and does not contract with Robeson County Emergency 911 services. However, the system needs an upgrade through AT&T soon in order to continue serving the community, St. Pauls Chief of Police Steve Dollinger said Thursday during a town Board of Commissioners meeting… READ MORE

Council hears presentation on 9-1-1 funding, honors local hero (TX)

The Harker Heights City Council on Tuesday heard a presentation by Jim Reed, executive director of the Central Texas Council of Governments, concerning the funding of the 9-1-1 program for Bell County.

The Texas Health and Safety Code was amended to establish ment of Regional Emergency Communications Districts (ECDs). The council approved CTCOG to create an ECD where the maximum of 50 cents charged citizens for 9-1-1 services would be forwarded in their entirety back to CTCOG… READ MORE