911 Hits The Road

Emergency 911 service is something everyone depends on, and it can make all the difference during any type of disaster. But what happens if a 911 call center has been affected and can’t dispatch emergency calls?

For many urban areas and communities prone to natural disaster, the question can be sobering. Dixie County Emergency Services in Florida has turned to an answer from Avaya and TCI.

Just 18 miles from the Florida Gulf Coast, community safety is paramount, especially during the middle of hurricane season. County officials have learned lessons from the disorganization along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and want to be prepared for any emergency situation.

"There have been several major Gulf hurricanes, and we've seen the devastation that can result," said Mike Gantt, 911 division chief for Dixie County Emergency Services. "Most of the communities hit by Hurricane Katrina were left with nothing. We wanted to make certain we had the ability to go back to work as a 911 center for the county, even if the building was inaccessible."

Using an integrated solution from Avaya and TCI, the county can now take its 911 center on the road and dispatch calls from any location. The Mobile Command Center is anchored by a 45-foot truck that contains everything the county’s emergency services team needs to manage 911 calls remotely.

Voice and data is provided by an Avaya Mobile Communication System. The technology supports analog, digital and IP communication devices and delivers connectivity via a number of methods like a phone line, data network, cellular system, satellite, radio or Wi-Fi network.

TCI’s Synapse E911 Call Handling Solution integrates with Avaya’s communications software to provide 911 dispatchers a familiar work environment to manage calls in the mobile center. Synapse tracks 911 call statistics, records conversations, displays the location of the caller and allows for dispatching of the correct services.

Dixie County also is implementing a new Avaya IP telephony infrastructure for the main 911 dispatch center to become part of an extended network of emergency service organizations across northwest Florida. Using a high-speed data network provided by the state, the agencies can share resources and direct calls to the correct department.

"The beauty of the mobile system and the new IP telephony network we're installing is that they are easy to operate and use the same, familiar workstation," Gantt said. "Our dispatchers don't have to worry about the technology. Instead they can concentrate on doing their job."

About the Author

Brent Dirks is senior editor for Security Today and Campus Security Today magazines.

Featured

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles. 3

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis. 3

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings. 3