The 9-1-1 Police, Fire and Rescue Communications Center is the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Garrett County. The call-taker/dispatcher receives 9-1-1 calls from the public for assistance for fire, ambulance, and police emergencies. The call-taker must gather sufficient information from the caller including address, location and type of emergency, verify phone number and name. If appropriate the call-taker will then give Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) information, such as CPR instructions. Once appropriate information has been gathered, the call-taker will dispatch the appropriate responders and maintain communications, with the incoming units. On average, Garrett County logs approximately 25,000 calls per year for assistance.
The computer Aided Dispatching System:
The 9-1-1 phone system was replaced and upgraded with a state of the art system , which is compliant with Phase II Wireless requirements and integrates the latest GIS mapping to allow call-takers to track the location of all fixed and cellular 9-1-1 calls, and can even track the movement of a cellular call from a moving vehicle. The system is completely computer based technology.
Addition of a Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) Mapping Enhancement - This system allows for the 9-1-1 call-takers to plot Fire/EMS/ Police resources to the computer mapping system, keeping a status of all units that have been deployed to all emergency calls and gives the call-taker/dispatcher the exact response assignment which can greatly increase the time from receipt of a call to alerting the appropriate units.
The upgraded console system, is PC-based and mouse driven, will allow for additional answering positions, integrate many of the existing stand-alone components and allow for improved interoperability between different radio systems.
Reverse 911
Reverse 9-1-1 is a communications tool that combines the 9-1-1 database with GIS mapping technology to deliver outbound emergency notification from the 9-1-1 Center. Users can quickly target a precise geographic area and place literally thousands of calls in a short time to residents that might be impacted of a particular incident. Funds for this project were provided through Homeland Security.
Landlines are automatically subscribed for emergency notifications. Citizens can sign up to receive reverse 911 emergency alerts by email or by text in Garrett County Government Citizen Connect