Emergency Communication Services and Facilities

Contents

• Emergency Communications
  • Federal Emergency Notification Programs  
  • Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP)
  • Emergency Notification Systems Used in Washington State
  • 911 Systems
  • Emergency Telephone Notification Systems (ETNS)
  • Wireless and Radio Communications
• Sample Emergency Communications Agreements
  • Regional Emergency Communications Services
  • Interlocal Contracts for Emergency Communications Services
  • Interlocal Contracts for Dispatch Services
• Regional Radio Communications Facilities
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Regional Emergency Communication Centers Created Under Ch. 39.34 RCW

Emergency Communications

Federal Emergency Notification Programs

• Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) - Federal Communications Commission
• Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)  - Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Emergency Alert System - Federal Communications Commission
• Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN) - NOAA National Weather Service

Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP)

• National Communications System Priority and Other Services (GETS, TSP, WPS)
• Communication: When All Wired and Wireless Telephone Circuits Are Busy: Priority Telecommunication Service for First Responders, by Harlin R. McEwen, Chief of Police (Retired), Ithaca, New York, and Chairman, IACP Communications and Technology Committee, The Police Chief, March 2006
• Washington Emergency Management Telecommunications Service Priority Plan ()

Emergency Notification Systems Used in Washington State

• Telecommunications - Washington State Emergency Management Division
• Emergency Medical Services Communications - Washington State Department of Health
• Washington State ARES/RACES
• Local Government Services
  • PIER Systems - See Washington users on Our Customers
  • Regional Public Information Network (RPIN) - Central Puget Sound Area

911 Systems

• State Enhanced 911 System - Division of Emergency Management
• National Emergency Number Association
  • National Emergency Number Association Wide Area / Statewide Emergency Notification Systems Operational Information Document (OID) (), prepared by National Emergency Number Association (NENA)  Standard Operating Committee – Wide Area Emergency Notification System Working Group, Document 56-503, June 6, 2006
• Next Generation 9-1-1 System (NG911)  - King County E-1-1

Emergency Telephone Notification Systems (ETNS)

• NENA Minimum Standards for Emergency Telephone Notification Systems, prepared by: National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Emergency Telephone Notification Systems Working Group of the Standard Operating Committee Document 56-003 June 12, 2004
• Washington Local Government Examples
  • Burien Alert
  • Grays Harbor County Notification System
  • Pierce County New system offers public options for receiving emergency alerts, Front Page News, July 6, 2010
  • SeaTac CodeRED Emergency Notification System
  • Snoqualmie Reverse 911 Fact Sheet, 10/13/2008
  • Thurston County Telephone Alert System 
  • Wahkiakum County Emergency Community Notification Public Sign-Up Page

Misuse of 911 Call System

• Misuse and Abuse of 911 by Rana Sampson, Problem-Specific Guide Series No. 19, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice, 2002 - Posted on Center for Problem Oriented Policing
• Edmonds Municipal Code Ch. 5.21 - Misuse of the 911 or Emergency Call System
• Okanogan County Code Ch. 9.12 - Abuse of 911 System

Wireless and Radio Communications

• Public Safety Spectrum - FCC Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB)
• 700 MHz Public Band - Federal Communications Commission
• 800 MHz Band Reconfiguration - Federal Communications Commission
• VHF/UHF Narrowbanding Information - Federal Communications Commission - January 1, 2013 Deadline 
  • FCC Web Page to Assist with Public Safety Radio ‘Narrowbanding’ Shift, County News, December 13, 2010
• Communications Special Focus, Police Chief, April 2005 (6 articles)
• Interoperability Issues
  • Communications Technology - The National Institute of Justice's Communications Technology Program has a mission to assist State and local law enforcement agencies to effectively and efficiently communicate with one another across agency and jurisdictional boundaries
  • Why Can't We Talk? Working Together to Bridge the Communications Gap To Save Lives: A Guide for Local Officials (), National Task Force on Interoperability, February 2003 
  • Standard Operating Guidelines for Interoperable Communications within Grant County (), Washington, Grant County Emergency Management October 2009
• Other Resources
  • Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) - National Association for Amateur Radio ARRL
  • CALEA Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program
  • Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages, American Red Cross, produced by the National Disaster Education Coalition, Washington, DC, 2004.
  • Transformers: Managers Transform Dispatch Centers into Performance Management Tools (), by Christopher Clark, Leonard Matarese, Thomas Wieczorek, and A.T. Garnett, Public Management, September 2009 via Maine Town and City Management Association  - Also available by  MRSC Library Loan - Describes process developed by ICMA Consulting Services that can be used to transform 911 dispatch centers into performance management tools.
  • 9-1-1 Center Operations: Challenges and Opportunities, I.Q. Report, International City/County Management Association, June 2004. ICMA Catalog Description  and   MRSC Library Loan

Sample Emergency Communications Agreements

Regional Emergency Communications Services

• Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) (911 PSAP and dispatch services)
  • Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency Interlocal Agreement (), 01/2001
• Cowlitz County Communications (911 PSAP and dispatch services)
  • Interlocal Agreement for Operation, Maintenance and Participation in Cowlitz County Communications Center
• Grant County Multi Agency Communications Center
  • Interlocal Agreement for the Operation of the Central Communications E911 Center, 1995 The Multi Agency Communications Center was formed through an interlocal agreement in January of 1995. Grant County; the cities of Soap Lake, Mattawa, Warden, Ephrata, Moses Lake, Electric City, Royal City, Grand Coulee, Coulee City and Quincy; Grant County Fire Protection District Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15; Grant County Coroner's Office, Grant County Fire Marshall, Grant County Emergency Services, Grant County Sheriffs Department, Grant County Mental Health, Grant County Public Hospital District No. 1, and Grant County Public Hospital District No. 2, together formed the consolidated public safety 9-1-1 dispatch center for law, fire and emergency medical aid. MRSC Library Loan
• JeffCom - Jefferson County (Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Jefferson County, Washington
  • JeffCom's Governing Agreement () - Interlocal agreement regarding emergency dispatching, communications and other services
• Kittcom Communications Center - Kittitas County (911 PSAP and dispatch)
  • Kittcom Governing Document (Interlocal Agreement)
• North East King County Regional Public Safety Communications Agency - Interlocal between 14 Fire Departments and 5 Law Enforcement Agencies
• Pierce County Resolution No. 2011-84 () -Authorizes an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Tacoma, the City of Lakewood, and Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 3, Providing for the Creation and Operation of an Emergency Communications Agency Named South Sound 9-1-1, passed 07/05/11
• Pierce County Law Enforcement Support Agency (Tacoma and Pierce County, 911 PSAP Pierce County and Dupont, Eatonville. Edgewood, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Roy, Ruston, Steilacoom, University Place)
  • Pierce County Code, Ch. 2.68 () - Law Enforcement Support Agency
• Skagit 911 - Skagit Emergency Communications Center
  • Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for a County-Wide Public Safety Communications Center   MRSC Library Loan
• Valley Communications Center (Serves South King County, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Tukwila)
  • Tukwila Ordinance No. 1912 - Approves formation of the Valley Communications Center Development Authority to acquire, construct and equip the Center through the issuance and servicing of long term debt, 4/2000
  • Federal Way Ordinance No. 00-369 () - Approves the Formation of the Valley Communications Center Development Authority, 04/2000
  • Exhibit A () - Kent Ordinance No. -- Approving Charter and Bylaws
  • Exhibit B () - Charter of the Valley Communications Center Development Authority
• WHITCOM Communications Center (An entity composed of Whitman County, Pullman and Washington State University; provides services to Moscow, Idaho and Asotin County.)
  • Pullman Resolution No. R-18-04 () - Authorizes an agreement between Pullman, Whitman County and Washington State University to create WHITCOM, an independent agency, to operate the Whitman County Enhanced 911 Emergency Communications and Dispatch Center. WHITCOM includes Whitman County and surrounding areas under jurisdiction of contract subscribers, including Moscow, Idaho and Asotin County, 03/2004
  • Pullman Resolution No. R-19-04 () - Authorizes an agreement between Pullman, Whitman County, Washington State University, and Asotin County for WHITCOM to provide Emergency Communications and Dispatch Services to Asotin County for initial period of 5 years with a 5 year renewal. WHITCOM includes Whitman County and surrounding areas under jurisdiction of contract subscribers, including Moscow, Idaho and Asotin County, 03/2004
  • Pullman Resolution No. R-4-04 () - Authorizes an agreement between Pullman, Whitman County, Washington State University, and Moscow, Idaho for WHITCOM to provide E911 services and complete dispatch Services to Moscow, Idaho for initial period of 3 years with 2 one year extensions. WHITCOM includes Whitman County and surrounding areas under jurisdiction of contract subscribers, including Moscow, Idaho and Asotin County, 01/2004

Interlocal Contracts for Emergency Communication Services

• Kitsap County Central Communications Department (CENCOM)
• Peninsula Communications PenCom - Port Angeles Police Department (911 PSAP)
  • PenCom Dispatch and Computer Records Service Agreement with Sequim, 08/1997 MRSC Library Loan

Interlocal Contracts for Emergency Dispatch Agreements

• Union Gap, et al. Fire Communications Services Contract #2008-24 ()- Agreement between Yakima Communications Center and Union Gap, Selah, Fire Protection Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 14 for Fire and Emergency Dispatching Service, term is January 1 to December 31, 2009.
• Yakima County and Wapato Law Enforcement Assistance Agreement - Communications/2000 - between Yakima County Sheriff's Office and the City of Wapato provides that the Sheriff shall provide telephone, radio communication, and access service for the City during hours in which the City has no law enforcement radio personnel on duty, dated 11/1999

Regional Radio Communications Facilities

• Agreement between Benton County Emergency Management (BCEM) and the City of Kennewick - Provides that the BCEM will provide access to its 800 MHZ radio system, 06/2000
• King County Regional 800 Mhz Trunked Radio System
  • King County Code, Chapter 2.58 () - Emergency Radio Communications System
• Snohomish County Emergency Radio System (SERS)
  • Interlocal Cooperation Agreement (agreement to develop system) Document available as MRSC Library Loan
  • Interlocal Financing Agreement () by and between Snohomish County and the City of Edmonds, Washington, 10/01/1999
  • Snohomish County Ordinance No. 99-086 () - provides for the issuance and sale of limited tax general obligation bonds of the County in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $30,000,000

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