Friday, April 12, 2019

YOUR LIFE COULD DEPEND ON STARK CO. ENHANCING ITS 9-1-1 EMERGENCY SERVICES SYSTEM!


The big surprise in The Stark County Political Report's exclusive "on-camera" interview with Stark County Emergency Management director Tim Warstler was his saying that Stark County could have "enhanced" 9-1-1 emergency (fire, police and EMT [emergency medical technician]) services by December 31, 2019.

The SCPR's video focuses on Warstler's "timeline" statement:



Although Stark's "traditional" system has been effective; " enhanced" 9-1-1 services will likely result in lives being saved of those with critical health issues, persons trapped in a fire/explosion dwelling and victims of crime getting police services which might resolve/mitigate the victimization and/or a more likely apprehension of perpetrators because of:
  • pinpoint location (for cellphone users),
  • accessibility to 9-1-1 dispatchers "real time" pictures of an emergency/disaster scene, and 
  • a likely quicker dispatch of emergency/security personnel with the proper equipment based on more information gained by dispatchers through the use of an "enhanced" 9-1-1 system.
In this SCPR/Warstler video interview segment, Director Warstler defines "enhanced" 9-1-1 and he discusses some of the ramifications of having "enhanced" 9-1-1 that maybe has not been given enough attention.



A universal emergency services number (now 9-1-1) was first conceived in 1957.  But it was 1968 before an actual system was up and running (Haleyville, AL).  Only 17% of the U.S. population was served by 9-1-1 in 1976.  Stark County first came onboard in 1989.  In 2019 about 96% of the national population is served by some form of 9-1-1.

The SCPR has followed the development of what Warstler names "traditional" 9-1-1 going all the way back to 2009 when local politicos were saying the system was broken, to wit:
But let bygones be bygones in that Stark County now has its "act together" with what Warstler calls a highly effective "traditional" 9-1-1.

The next big move, even with "enhanced" 9-1-1 appears to be in getting texting to work with all systems.

SOURCE:  LINK

There is a state of Ohio endeavor on creating a statewide 9-1-1 which has been underway for about five years.  However, Warstler says, it is anybody's guess as to when, if ever, a statewide system comes into being.


Warstler pointed out that there is a risk that the state will develop a system and mandate that local governments get on board which raises the possibility that Stark will have to scrap a "before the state got into it" system and spend additional money for a state-mandated system.

Ever since NBC broadcast a segment (LINK) on Smart911 (which is under consideration by Stark County) on July 21, 2018, this blogger has been inquiring of Warstler as to when Stark County might implement "smart/enhanced" 9-1-1, to wit:



NBC weighed in again on "enhanced" 9-1-1 on April 11, 2019 with regard to 911Eye (also under consideration by Stark County).  See the segment at this LINK.

In the SCPR/Warstler interview, he had this reaction to what seemed to be the arrival of help within 21 seconds.  No, said Warstler, more like 20 minutes, "if all the ducks are lined up in a row." (paraphrase)

Once again, the SCPR pounced on the NBC 911Eye segment to inquire of Warstler which lead to the interview of Thursday, April 11th which, of course, is the basis of this blog.

There is another system named Carbyne911 which is under consideration.  However, Warstler cautions that the race to market "enhanced" 9-1-1 systems is a dynamic, fast and furious paced competition with new products to be looked at on an almost daily basis.

Whatever is decided upon in terms of a recommendation to the Stark County commissioners when bids put out by the commissioners come back, it will be, Warstler says, a collective recommendation of himself, Deputy Director Woods, 9-1-1 Coordinator Julia Patterson and the chiefs of Stark's seven dispatch centers.

It is obvious that Warstler has a lot of respect for  Stark County dispatch centers' leadership.

So what is the annual cost of "enhanced" 9-1-1 likely to be?

Warstler says it could range as high as $250,000 a year.

Moreover, he says, that Stark County does have the financial resources to finance the enhancement.  The Stark County Emergency Agency has a little over $6 million is "unappropriated" available financial resources.

Stark County's 9-1-1 is financed by a state levied telephone bill excise tax and Stark Countian have agreed to an additional levy as a purely local financial resource.  The local levy is 0.1 mill which produces slightly more than $650,000 annually and which passed in 2017 with a 75% approval rate.

The levy is a terrific value for individual property owners in that the cost at the family home level is about $3 per year for most Stark County property owners.

The SCPR has hit the highlights of the discussion of "enhanced 9-1-1 with Director Warstler.

However, as is the normal course of things with the SCPR, here is the "entire" interview with Warstler, Wood and Patterson.

For Stark Countians who want to be fully informed on the development and implementation of "enhanced" 9-1-1, the following 35-minute SCPR/Stark County Emergency Agency interview is priceless.



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