A Virginia 911 center is combining remote solutions with FirstNet connectivity as part of a multi-pronged strategy to ensure operational continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic today and to evaluate new technological options for the center in the future.
Doug Campbell, deputy director of the Department of Emergency & Customer Communications (DECC) for the city of Alexandria, Va., said such technology capabilities potentially are transformative for the 911 community.
“After 30-plus years of doing this, who would have thought we would be doing it [answering 911 calls] at home?” Campbell said during an interview with IWCE’s Urgent Communications. “But that’s what we’re looking at. You kind of have to massage it to fit your needs, but those are pretty cool [solutions], as technology has evolved. I would have never thought that we would be answering calls from home, especially emergency calls.