Tagged: Emergencies

It’s been one year since the ten digit dialing requirement was put into place in the 919 area code. It immediately caused an increase in the number of misdials coming into the 911 call centers in the Triangle. Twelve months later, the problem hasn't gone away. 

The calls come in waves, at all times of the day, to the Raleigh/Wake County Emergency Communications Center in the basement of the City Hall building. If the caller who misdials stays on the line and admits their error, it's an easy situation for the dispatcher to handle.

Raleigh TV station WRAL is working on technology that would get emergency messages to you -- wherever you are.

Gurnal Scott: You're familiar with the Emergency Alert System messages on TV and radio.

EAS Test: This is only a test.

WRAL says mobile EAS messages can be sent to hand-held devices with a chip that can pick up TV signals. Steve Hammel is the station's Vice President and General manager.

Emergency management officials in Johnston County are launching a local emergency alert system. The county has paired with the company Code Red in an effort to improve response time to natural disasters. Emergency Management coordinator Darrell Alford says the system also warns residents about localized emergencies like boil-water advisories or pipeline bursts.

Surry County communications operators are testing a developing 911 call system to improve emergency response networks. A grant program is funding a test system called Next Generation 911 from Greensboro-based Synergem Emergency Services. Surry County communications director Roger Shore says the system allows 911 operators to field calls more efficiently.