VAN NUYS, Calif. — Preparing for the worst and hoping it never happens — that’s the order of the day for Michael Schlenker, who is perched atop San Vicente Mountain Park on a Saturday morning. He is a volunteer with the Los Angeles Fire Department Auxiliary Communications Service, which is comprised of more than 100 amateur ham radio operators spread across four bureaus.
When all else fails during a disaster, they jump into action.
“Cell phone towers will go down, the power will go out and your cell phones will be rendered obsolete for communication,” Schlenker said. “If you have a ham radio, you’re able to reach out to those in your neighborhood or community.”
That is exactly why the group is so valuable to the LAFD for backup communications. On this day, he led a three-hour drill across the Southland, relaying fire and medical calls, just as they would during a disaster…
Kenzie Capece, Senior Public Safety Advisor, First Responder Network Authority
On August 26, the First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet Authority) Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) held a business meeting to report on committee operations, progress of recent working groups, and FirstNet’s most recent accomplishments and activities.
Welcome and Leadership Update
PSAC Chair Todd Early welcomed members with remarks that focused on his retirement from the PSAC and his appreciation for the work and expertise the PSAC provides to the FirstNet Authority.
FirstNet Authority Board Chair Tip Osterthaler and CEO Ed Parkinson announced that longtime PSAC and Executive Committee member Jonathan Olson, representing the National EMS Management Association, would serve as interim PSAC Chair, effective upon Todd’s retirement. Tip and Ed also took this opportunity to thank Todd for his leadership, guidance, and commitment to grow the FirstNet network during the years he served on the PSAC, including the three years serving as its Chair.
Sep. 1—KINGWOOD — Employees of the Preston County Sheriff’s Office and Preston County Office of Emergency Management /911 got a pay raise at Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Preston County Commission.
Sheriff Paul Pritt asked the commission to increase pay to a level that would put the sheriff’s office in a better position to hire and retain personnel.
“Recently we’ve lost I think four, ” Pritt said. “So we just can’t keep anybody, we can’t get anybody to apply for the jobs, etc., etc.”
Pritt said deputies go beyond their role as law enforcement in ways that save the county money, such as in-house firearms and defense instructors…
Chatham County Communications, better known as 911, is a major service provided to our community. The department is responsible for routing emergency calls from citizens, visitors and motorists in an urgent situation or reporting an event witnessed. These calls consist of medical assistance needed, vehicular incidents, dangerous situations and the list goes on.
These calls require expeditious but concise data entry such as name, location, nature of the call, assessment of the situation and what emergency response services may be needed as directed by professional and dedicated 911 telecommunicators.
As noted in a news story published in this newspaper in early August, the 911 center has several vacant positions. However, the center consoles are always fully staffed, as 911 management has rearranged shifts to ensure full coverage as has been done for more than two years…
Anyone in need of services from Beaumont Police or Beaumont fire dispatch can always text 911 for emergencies or call (409) 838-6371, Beaumont Police said.
The Nederland Police Department took to Facebook Tuesday night saying, there’s a regionwide issue with the 911 phones lines. The South East Texas Regional Planning Commission is working on restoration efforts, according to the post…
Learn about current efforts to continue to protect the 4.9 GHz Band for public safety as well as recent filings, key decisions impacting these efforts, and how you can support PSSA’s initiative to protect the 4.9 GHz band for public safety.
