Yellowstone County E911 Project
Janelle Luppen, Yellowstone County Address Coordinator
217 N. 27th Street Rm. 305
Billings MT 59101
(406) 869-3553
jluppen@co.yellowstone.mt.gov
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For the past several years, Yellowstone County has utilized Enhanced 911 (E911) technology to support the dispatch of emergency personnel. With Enhanced 911, a caller's phone number and physical address are automatically written to the 911 operator's screen when a 911 call is generated. The instantaneous display of this information provides several advantages: dispatchers are freed up from taking lengthy verbal descriptions of callers' locations, and they can handle more calls if they're not occupied with guiding responders to a scene. A written address reduces confusion that can be caused by similar-sounding street names or missing or inaccurate directionals. ("Help, I'm at 1234 24th Street!" instead of, 1234 South 24th Street West). Most importantly, in situations where a caller becomes disconnected, cannot speak, or doesn't know their location, enhanced 911 makes it possible to identify the caller's location and dispatch public safety personnel without delay.

The enhanced functionality requires that phone company databases contain accurate physical addresses for every phone number -- no PO box addresses or rural route designations. However, in the case of cell phones, the person dialing 911 could be calling from anywhere. Different processes are required to identify the location of cell phone 911 callers, and to ensure that the 911 call is routed to the appropriate jurisdiction for the quickest response. GPS-enabled cell phones, selective routers on cell phone towers, and computer mapping applications are the key components of Wireless Enhanced 911 (WE911).

The result of applying these new technologies to public safety operations is improved emergency response times and better management of resources, i.e., saved time, money, and most importantly, lives.

 

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