BACK-UP 9-1-1 DISPATCH COULD BE COMING TO CLARK COUNTY
Tuesday, October 18th, 2005 -- 11:12 AM
Clark County?s Emergency Management Director is taking the lead roll in administering nearly $1-million in grant money to improve the region?s emergency communications capabilities.West Central Interoperability Alliance recently announced they've received over $963,000 from the Office of Justice Assistance. WCIA plans to purchase a series of equipment that will enhance the way the twelve-counties and the Ho-Chunk Nation communicate with each other and among responders within their own borders.
Clark County Emergency Management Director Jennifer Lord-Kouraichi will function as the project director.
"This grant money will enhance public safety communications through a twelve-county area," Lord-Kouraichi says. "About 500,000 citizens live in our region. They will all benefit from this grant program."
Most counties in the region already have emergency ?MARC repeaters?, which provide additional radio channels. But Clark, Buffalo, Dunn and Trempealeau counties will be able to purchase the equipment through the grant money.
The region will also set up a back-up 9-1-1 dispatch using "Voice over I.P." technology.
"Currently, none of the twelve counties have back-up dispatch capabilities. While you can transfer your 9-1-1 calls to a neighboring county, they are not able to speak on your frequency and handle your dispatching capabilities," Lord-Kouraichi says.
"Using Voice Over I.P. technologies, we're going to connect all the dispatch centers in the region so if one goes down, neighboring counties can pick up the duties and help dispatch."
However, the grant does not provide complete funding--it does have a substantial hurdle in the form of a 25% cash match; in Clark County that means up $30,000.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.