911 Communications

GRAHAM COUNTY 911 COMMUNICATIONS

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Misty Hembree

Director
  • Email: misty.hembree
    @grahamcounty.org
  • Phone: (828) 479-7985
  • Fax: (828) 479-6599
  • Address: 40 Fort Hill Ln. Robbinsville, NC 28771
  • Office Hours: 7 am - 3:30 pm



The Graham County 911 Communications Center

The Graham County 911 Communications Center is the answering point for public safety agencies within our county. The center receives law enforcement, fire, rescue, and EMS emergency requests from the public through and enhanced 911 telephone system.



ABOUT 911 SERVICES

We dispatch for 2 Fire Departments, 2 Rescue Squads, 1 EMS, The Sheriff’s Office and Tribal Police. We also work with all other County agencies as well as North Carolina Highway Patrol, Tennessee Valley Authority, North Carolina Forest Service, US Forest Service, and our surrounding counties.



EMD

Graham County 911 Communications Dispatchers are certified in Emergency Medical Dispatch. (EMD) is a system of protocols based on medical priority. It is a system that enhances services by allowing the call taker to quickly narrow down the caller’s type of medical or trauma situation, so as to better dispatch emergency services and provide quality instruction before help arrives. The system we use has been found to be successful and effective and is used by emergency communications agencies around the world.



CAD and Mapping

We utilize Southern Software Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD). This system is our record-keeping and mapping system. It allows dispatchers to find a caller address or location, give responders information about that location, and record the activities associated with that call. The system is also used to keep track of the availability of law enforcement, fire, EMS, and rescue units.

The Map system we use works in conjunction with Southern Software CAD it displays the entire county; including roads, residences, businesses, tribal lands, lakes, creeks, trails, and jurisdictional boundaries. This entire system works together to allow dispatchers to closely pinpoint our callers and assist responding units with location information.



911-TIPS

When using 911, remain calm and speak clearly. Tell the dispatcher what is happening, where it is happening, and your name, address, and phone number. Remain on the phone to provide additional information as needed. DO NOT HANG UP until the dispatcher advises you to do so.

Location is the most important piece of information you give when you call 911, and you should always post your correct 911 address at the point that your drive turns off of the named road. If there is more than one residence on your drive also post it at your residence!



Never Call 9-1-1 As A Joke

The equipment we have indicates where the call is coming from. We are required to verify if there is an emergency, if that can't be done, we will send a Law Enforcement Officer out to check.

This could engage an officer's services when he or she might be needed on a real emergency. Abusing 911 in this manner could cost someone's life. It is a criminal offense to intentionally abuse 911.



Accidental Dials

If you accidentally dial 911 stay on the line so that the dispatcher can verify that there is no emergency.



Texting 911

Call if you can, text if you can’t Graham County 911 is set up to accept some cell phone services for text to 911. If you cannot text you should get a message to call.

If you can make a voice call, we prefer you not text:
• In an emergency, seconds matter, and 911 operators can get more information from you quicker from a voice call than from a texting conversation. • When you first text 9-1-1, they will ask if you can get to a location to make a voice call. If not, continue with the text conversation.

What are some situations that are good for texting 911:
• If you are hiding and don't want to give your position away. • If you are in a domestic violence situation and need to discreetly contact first responders or the authorities. • If you have bad cell reception, sometimes it is difficult for calls to go through, but texts still have the ability to send.

If you text 911, what should you know beforehand:
• Texting 911 has limited abilities to let first responders know your exact location, so if you text 911, make sure you specify your exact location. • Make sure you specify what kind of emergency it is. Is it a fire? Is it a medical emergency? Do you require law enforcement? Make sure to let them know in the initial text. • Texting 911 has a lag so when you text 911 just like any other text it will take longer.

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