Emergency Communication Services and Facilities

Overview

Some of the major agencies, programs and systems governing emergency communications are noted in this section.

Federal Emergency Notification Programs

• Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) – A bureau under the Federal Communications Commission, the PSHSB makes recommendations to, or acts for the Commission under delegated authority, in all matters pertaining to public safety, homeland security, national security, emergency management and preparedness, disaster management, and ancillary operations.
• Emergency Alert System (EAS) – A national public warning system
• Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) – A tool offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, IPAWS provides public safety officials with an effective way to alert and warn the public about serious emergencies using public alerting systems (such as the EAS) from a single interface.
• Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN) – This tool allows users to obtain weather forecasts, warnings, and other information directly from the National Weather Service (NWS) in almost real time.
• Telecommunications Priority Services – Offered through the Dept. of Homeland Security, this program authorizes national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) organizations to receive priority treatment for vital voice and data circuits or other telecommunications services.
• Emergency Management Division of Washington State: Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan – Under Communication Plans, readers can download the state’s Telecommunications Service Priority Plan.

911 Systems

E911 is a system that automatically provides the location of callers to 911 dispatchers using a universal emergency telephone number.

• Enhanced 911 System – Part of Washington State’s Emergency Management Division, the E911 Unit works with counties and communications companies to ensure the E911 system is operational and available statewide.
• National Emergency Number Association (NENA) – NENA works with 911 professionals nationwide, public policy leaders, emergency services and telecommunications industry partners, like-minded public safety associations, and other stakeholder groups to develop and carry out critical programs and initiatives, to facilitate the creation of an IP-based Next Generation 911 system, and to establish industry leading standards, training, and certifications​.
  • NENA Wide Area/Statewide Emergency Notification Systems (2006) – Contains strategies, points for consideration, and other operational guidance related to Wide Area/Statewide Emergency Notification Systems.
  • NENA Standards & Other Documents – This webpage contains a variety of documents related to NENA standards, primarily aimed at the industry.

Examples of Emergency Notification Systems in Washington

Counties

• Douglas County Citizen Emergency Notification System – Allows residents to receive an emergency notification via text over a cell phone.
• Grays Harbor County Notification System – Uses a software application that can automatically call or email people who have registered with the Division of Emergency Management. 
• Jefferson County Emergency Text Alerts – Allows residents to receive an emergency notification via text over a cell phone.
• Pacific County Hyper-Reach Emergency Notification System – Hyper-Reach will automatically call all registered cell and landline numbers for community and severe weather alerts, but will only call landlines for general weather alerts. 
• Wahkiakum County Alert Notifications – Allows for automated emergency warning notifications via landline phones numbers from records provided by phone companies.

Cities

• SeaTac CodeRED Emergency Notification System – Allows for automated emergency warning notifications via landline phone numbers from a database kept by the city.
• Alert Yakima – Allows users to receive emergency notifications by text, call, email, or fax.
• Alert Seattle – Allows users to receive emergency notifications by text, call, email, or social media.

Regional Examples of Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP)

A public safety answering point (PSAP) is a call center responsible for answering calls to an emergency telephone number for police, firefighting, and ambulance services. A PSAP facility runs 24 hours a day, dispatching emergency services or passing 911 calls on to public or private safety agencies.

The table below lists some of the Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) in the state. Some are countywide and some serve more than one county. Most have been created through interlocal agreements, as provided for under RCW 39.34, and have separate governing bodies. Some are county services provided through interlocal service agreements. Washington State Public Safety Answering Points Boundaries provides a map of all PSAPs across the state.  

Regional Communication Facilities Additional Documents

The documents below show some of the initial steps in creating emergency communication services and facilities through interlocal agreements.

King County Radio Services

• King County Radio Services
• Interlocal agreement among Seattle, Tacoma, Eastside Public Safety Communication Agency (ESPCA), King County, Snohomish County Emergency Radio System (SERS), and Valley Communications Center for the Puget Sound Next-Generation Voice/Data Switch Project.

South Sound 911

• Interlocal agreement (2011) between Pierce County, Tacoma, Lakewood, and Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 3 for the creation and operation of South Sound 911.
• Ballot Measure for funding the agency through a sales and use tax, November 2011 General Election.
• South Sound 911
• South Sound 911 Archive Search – Can search for agreements, budget, finance, resolutions, motions of policy and operations boards, newsletters, and reports.

Valley Communications Center

• Kent Ordinance No. 3510 (2000) – Establishing Valley Communications Center Public Development Authority to finance the Center through the issuance of long-term debt; includes charter and bylaws; also includes accompanying Federal Way ordinance approving formation of the authority.
• Valley Communications Center

WHITCOM 9-1-1

The Whitman County Regional Communication Center (WHITCOM 9-1-1), located in Pullman provides Emergency 911 communication services to citizens in Whitman County, and Asotin County and the city of Moscow in Idaho. WHITCOM is governed by a 6-member Executive Board. Whitman County provides administrative support and the city of Pullman provides Human Resources.

• Interlocal Agreement for 911 and Non-Emergency Dispatch Services (2015) – This agreement between Asotin County and Pullman allows both to contract with WHITCOM for 911 services.

Misuse and Abuse of 911 Call System

Unintentional misuse and intentional abuse of the 911 system is a problem that many operators deal with. Any time someone calls 911 without considering whether their situation merits it, lives are put at risk. Below are resources to help local governments tackle misuse and abuse of their 911 systems.

• Office of Community Oriented Policing Services: Misuse and Abuse of 911 (2002) – Part of the Problem-Oriented Guides for Police series, this section addresses the misuse and abuse of 911 and offers resources so that local governments can analyze and tackle the problem.
• Edmonds Municipal Code Ch. 5.21 – Misuse identified as false request for emergency services or when the caller “does not have good faith basis to request” such assistance; provides penalties for violations.
• Okanogan County Code Ch. 9.12 – Defines abuse of 911 system as any call that falls within the guidelines of RCW 9A.84.040.

Recommended Resources

• Emergency Communications Guidance Documents and Publications – This webpage offers resources that help establish emergency communications capabilities.
• Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) – Consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty when disaster strikes.
• CALEA Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program – Provides a communications center with a process to review and internally assess its operations and procedures.
• Washington State Public Safety Answering Points – List of agencies statewide operating as Public Safety Answering Points or Washington State Patrol Communication Centers.