National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 9 – 15, 2023
Pitt County promotes Premise Alert Program in recognition of 9-1-1 dispatchers
PITT COUNTY, N.C. – Telecommunicators will be celebrated for their invaluable services provided to communities from Sunday, April 9 – Saturday, April 15, 2023 in honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. The Board of County Commissioners recognized the service and duties of Pitt County telecommunicators at the April 3 board meeting.
An annual week-long event since 1981, sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week acknowledges the thousands of public safety telecommunicators who serve as vital members of Public Safety and Emergency Management teams.
“We appreciate the Pitt County telecommunicators who respond quickly to county-wide emergency and 9-1-1 calls, dispatch police, fire and medical personnel, and render life-saving assistance to Pitt County community members,” says Janis Gallagher, County Manager.
9-1-1 dispatchers play a critical role in coordinating first response and lifesaving efforts, often working around the clock including holidays, birthdays and family functions to serve the Pitt County community in an efficient and timely manner.
To assist telecommunicators and residents, Pitt County Emergency Management (PCEM) has added a layer of safety response with the Premise Alert Program (PAP). PAP allows individuals or their families to provide essential information to 9-1-1 Communications, EMS and fire/police departments. Information that may be submitted include special needs, physical or mental impairments, and other special considerations such as fence gate code, door lock code, hidden house key, bedroom location assistance or secondary contact information.
Residents are encouraged to participate in PAP by completing the Premise Alert Request Form. The form can be downloaded from the County website or received in person at PCEM located at 1717 West 5th Street, Greenville, N.C. The data is securely stored in the County’s Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) database and retained for one year. Dispatchers will contact the requester after one year to confirm the information is current. In the event of an emergency, dispatchers will notify responders of the special considerations on file for the physical address. Premise Alert Frequently Asked Questions are available at www.PittCountyNC.gov/PremiseAlert.
“Pitt County dispatchers respond quickly to unexpected emergencies, every day at any time. They play a crucial role in the lifesaving process, providing an invaluable connection between emergency services and the people who need them,” said Jimmy Hodges, Deputy Director, Emergency Management. “We are very thankful for the men and women who shoulder this responsibility and we recognize the invaluable assistance that they provide to our community.”
“Pitt County recognizes public safety telecommunicators in the 9-1-1 Center as first responders who serve an equally critical link in the chain of Public Safety as their Fire, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and law enforcement counterparts,” says Randy Gentry, Emergency Management Director. “The county is thankful for the men and women who provide invaluable assistance to the community through their highly difficult and ever-growing roles as dispatchers.”
For more information, visit www.PittCountyNC.gov/EmergencyManagement or contact Jimmy Hodges at 252-902-3950 or by email at jimmy.hodges@pittcountync.gov.
The Mission of Pitt County Government is to enhance the health, safety, and well-being of our community by advocating for and providing quality services in a friendly and cost-effective manner. Learn more: www.PittCountyNC.gov