As we approach the end of 2005, the Middle Flint Regional E9-1-1 Center has a lot to be 
thankful for, and a lot to look forward to in 2006. We began operations in Schley, Sumter, and Webster counties in early April and added Marion, Macon, Dooly, and Taylor counties over the next four months to become 100% live with the first and largest regional E9-1-1 Center in Georgia in early August.
The Center was created because none of the seven counties involved could afford 9-1-1 services. Several counties had studied the possibility of having 9-1-1 but it was not possible. In the early part of 2001, the Middle Flint Regional Development Center began to organize the seven counties to develop a regional 9-1-1 Center but the counties still lacked the finances to provide the service. The next piece of the puzzle came from an unlikely source, the tobacco lawsuits via the One Georgia Authority. The Authority created a program to encourage counties without 9-1-1 to work with other counties to provide 9-1-1 service. One Georgia awarded The Middle Flint Regional E9-1-1 Authority $700,000 to build, furnish and equip the Center from the program in August of 2003. The Center would have the largest service area and the most jurisdictions in the state of Georgia.
The administration staff was hired in mid 2004 and employees were hired on December
2004. The employees underwent over three months of training covering every aspect of their job. Trainers from around the state and from Florida provided training totaling almost 500 hours of class room time. The employees scored higher than any class ever had in the Communications Officer Training and Emergency Medical Dispatcher classes. Middle Flint Regional 911 performs job testing on a continuous basis through the year. Applicants for the job must successfully pass a computerized skills test which encompasses different skills a successful Communication Officer must use on a daily basis. Everyone who passes the test with a minimum score of 80% and 3500 KPH will be interviewed. Employees with no experience will make approximately $18,000 per year with three performance increases for job knowledge within the first year. Anyone who wishes to take the test may call 229 937 5102 to make an appointment.
In our first year, we have handled almost 65,000 calls for approximately 70 agencies including Sheriff, Police, Fire and EMS agencies. We answered over 130,000 phone calls and 28,000 of those were 9-1-1 calls. We have dispatched and handled several large calls in our region and in neighboring counties. Our Communications officers took over and handled the Stewart County shootings when their dispatcher had to take cover from the bullets flying around her. We were able to dispatch four of our counties agencies and multiple outside agencies to the scene within moments while still serving our region. We have assisted several citizens in performing CPR and pregnant mothers with childbirth until EMS units arrive.
There have been trials and tribulations for the center, the employees and the agencies we serve, but everyone has worked hard to make things better for the citizens of the seven counties. 
We set our procedures to be the best for all agencies; therefore there has been some adjusting to doing things differently. Change is always hard. Because we were the first center of our kind, there was no guidebook - we had to learn on the go. Some agencies have experienced radio problems because they were using older radio systems. We made improvements in radio systems so we can communicate with all agencies using our 300 foot radio tower and new equipment. Officers have had to adjust to using new radio codes and different procedures that were implemented so as to have a standard method for all agencies we serve. Responders had to adjust to receiving an address instead of just a resident’s name due to HIPPA laws. This has increased the need for correct addresses and street address signs at each driveway. It is very important citizens begin to use their new street address also called 9-1-1 addresses. Because we serve seven counties, the Communication Officers can not possibly know where everyone lives. Old addresses such as P.O. Boxes, Rural route and box numbers cannot be used. Responders may not be able to locate the address in case of an emergency. It is very important for all addresses to follow the ordinances of their counties and have numbers posted at the driveway or visible from the road so they can be easily located in an emergency.
In the upcoming year, the Middle Flint Regional E9-1-1 has several goals for the New Year to be better able to serve our region. The first goal is to hire enough employees to increase staffing to seven per shift to be better able to serve our agencies. The biggest goal of the year is to become Phase 2 Wireless which means the Middle Flint Regional 9-1-1 Center will be able to receive wireless calls on 9-1-1 and have a location of the caller within a few yards along with information such as the name of the wireless customer and their phone number. This is extremely important as it allows us to locate people who do not know where they are or physically can not tell us. This information will automatically update every few seconds if the caller is moving. We have all of the needed equipment to accept these calls and hope to complete the process by June. We look forward to the meeting these goals and working to improve all aspects of our performance to better serve the region.
Citizens also can help by following the guidelines below when calling from Emergency responses or for any unit to respond to a location:
Call 9-1-1 anytime you need a Law enforcement officer, Fire or EMS. Do not use the old seven digit numbers as they can slow the response of the units.
Stay on the phone and answer all of the questions. Help is on the way. The Communication Officer who answered the phone will already have another Communication Officer dispatching the appropriate units.
In the case of a medical situation, the Communication Officer will stay on the phone with you to ask important medical questions which will aid the EMS responders in their care for the patient. Remember that the call has already been dispatched to the units.
Give a good location including city/community name, cross street (what other street is near your house) and the county. We have seven counties with lots of streets in more than one community.
By Linda Adams
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