Sitting inside the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Center, Erin Allwardt reviewed radio traffic from a recent structure fire.
The quality assurance and training supervisor struggled to make out the words of the first firefighter on scene; his voice was frequently consumed by static over the airwaves.
It's nothing new for Allwardt and her fellow dispatchers, she explained, as outdated technology has made it increasingly difficult to connect with first responders during emergencies.
"It’s frustrating for us (as dispatchers), it’s frustrating for (the first responders)," she said, acknowledging every second matters during emergency situations. "We’re just trying to be efficient."