County commissioners recognize 911 dispatchers’ efforts during storms
The number of phone calls the county 911 center received increased exponentially during recent severe storms that left thousands of homes and businesses without electricity.
County commissioners on Wednesday, April 12, approved a proclamation recognizing April 9 to 15 as National Telecommunications Week, after they learned about the efforts of 911 dispatchers during the storms at a recent public safety meeting.
Before the proclamation was approved, county 911 coordinator Rob McLafferty commended the dispatchers’ work during the high-wind storms March 25 and April 1.
“They truly are our first responders,” McLafferty said.
Typically, 15 to 17 calls per hour are made to the dispatch center, he said.
On March 25, the number of calls the center received increased from 15.5 calls per hour during the four hours that preceded the storm to 96 calls per hour for five hours, McLafferty said.
That translates to an increase of 513.3%, or 6.2 times the average, and a rate of 1.6 calls per minute, he said.
On April 1, the call volume skyrocketed from 17.5 calls per hour to 577.5 calls per hour for two hours — an increase of 4,052.2%, or 41.5 times the average, or 9.6 calls per minute, he said.
“They handled it with their normal grace,” McLafferty said.
He said additional dispatchers were called into work during the storms.
“I was stuck to my seat,” dispatcher Jeremy Nickl said, about working as a fire and EMS dispatcher during both storms.
McLafferty said some dispatchers are assigned to dispatching police and others dispatch fire departments and emergency medical services.
