Amateur radio operators provide assistance to Blaine Police Department (WA)

by | Nov 27, 2019 | Comm Center News

Editors Note: Many ECC’s have work stations in the ECC’s to support expanded communications needs during disasters and large scale planned events.

Managed by the Blaine Police Department, ACS volunteers provide volunteer assistance during major Blaine events such as the Fourth of July, the Christmas tree lighting and the Ragnar Relay long distance race. But their real goal is to be able to communicate with the outside world in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.

This team of radio operators, known as the Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS), consists of 26 volunteers who are trained in the use of amateur or “ham” radios. They have licenses from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate ham radios at certain bandwidths or frequencies. The FCC issues different classes of licenses, and there is a test for each class.

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Muhlenberg County 9-1-1 Office requesting livestock farmers to call them (KY)

by | Nov 27, 2019 | Comm Center News

Editors Note: I am posting this story to show how unique many places are across our country. Many of you will think this is nothing less than “stupid” yet when you see the damage, injuries and sometimes death that can occur from hitting a large animal on a roadway you wold understand this is as important has any major traffic hazard. Knowing who to call is very important to removing the hazard.

MUHLENBERG COUNTY, Ky The Muhlenberg County 9-1-1 Office is requesting that all livestock owners in the county provide information regarding their animals.

They request that they are contacted at (270) 338-2000 and told of the address/location of the livestock, breed, color, etc as well as the owner’s name.

Officials say… Read More

Chicago 911 Dispatchers Lack Ready Access to Basic Map Resources (IL)

by | Nov 27, 2019 | Comm Center News

Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications is investigating an incident involving a stroke victim’s call to 911.

If you need an address you can more than likely find it on your smartphone in the time it takes for you to read this paragraph. But NBC 5 Investigates has learned that emergency dispatchers in Chicago do not have ready access to smart phones or other basic map resources if someone calling from a cell phone is unable to provide….

Smart911 gives Newton dispatchers immediate information on calls

by | Nov 27, 2019 | Comm Center News

NEWTON – Detective Dan Finkle made a 911 call while standing in the Newton police dispatch center.

On one computer screen, the 911 information showed his phone number and a GPS coordinate, accurate to about 1,000 meters (two-thirds of a mile) radius putting Finkle almost anywhere from Home Depot to the intersection of Sparta and Diller avenues.

A second screen, however, showed he was standing in the southwest corner of the municipal building, just a couple of steps away from his office. The screen also showed tons of personal information about the detective and his family such as a medical condition and what hospital he wanted to be taken to.

“We’re the first ….