| There is light at the end of the tunnel for
Calhoun's E-911 addressing and mapping project, according to 911/OES Director Kathy Wood.
"The last area to receive addressing is around Chloe, and that will happen shortly after the holidays," Wood said.
Former 911 Director Gary Buchanan said, "A huge amount of work has been done to make this happen." Buchanan is helping wrap up the project.
Wood (pictured left) is hopeful more county residents will obtain and erect the new E-911 locater signs. They're free by calling 304-354-0911.
"This entire effort is to help emergency responders quickly find a location," she said.
Calhoun's center has the latest computer system known as CAD (Computer Aided Dispatching)
Wood explained all E-911 addressing is attached to home/business phone numbers.
"When you call 911, the information is fed into the CAD System, which has exact location information," she said.
"Mr. Smith dials 911 and the call is answered. Mr. Smith's phone number and address appears. CAD tells dispatchers in which house Mr. Smith lives, and who will be toned and dispatched."
The CAD system also has a mapping program that shows the dispatcher the best way for responders to get to the scene.
Calhoun's dispatchers have already taken CAD training.
Calhoun's 911/OES services are working on an emergency mobile radio center that can be used during disasters or can quickly serve as a back-up if the main center at Mt. Zion goes down.
The 911 Advisory Board is working with Wood to improve radio communications in the northern Calhoun area, where current service is poor in some locations, sometimes non-existent.
A current proposal is to build a 300-400 tower and radio transmitter that would clear-up the problems.
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