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The land line was disconnected some
months ago. The tall antennas acted like lightening rods, drawing
power surges into the systems nearly every time a thunderstorm came
rolling through.
The wireless technology is based on
radio wave communication and will not be affected by lightning
strikes. Additional surge protectors are being added throughout the
systems as well.
The backup location ensures continued
911 operations in the event that the primary system fails for any
reason. An example of its importance was documented this year when
an in-house flood caused by a prisoner in the jail above shorted out
the primary system. As luck would have it, the ordeal occurred while
the office was actively responding to potentially threatening
weather that turned into a major storm with damages. The backup
center kicked in automatically, and it is believed that not a one of
the many urgent 911 calls was lost.
The wireless connection between the two
locations will reduce administrative costs. Office administrator
Diane Ruff will no longer have a daily run across town and run a
backup tape to make changes in the backup system. She will be able
to quickly make all the additions and changes through the wireless
connection.
[Jan
Youngquist] |
