Last year, 911 dispatchers took 2 million emergency calls in Oregon responding to pandemic, floods, fires and a destructive winter storm. Governor Kate Brown honored 911 operators by declaring this Public Safety Telecommunications Week. (April 11-17, 2021)
Oregon 911 Dispatchers took 2 million calls last year in response to the pandemic, wildfires, floods, freezes and general emergencies.
Credit Oregon Office of Emergency Management
State 911 Program Manager Frank Kuchta says as wildfires burned around the state last summer, dispatchers remained on the front lines.
“Many of the telecommunicators and dispatchers that work throughout the state have very close ties with their communities,” he said, “and in many instances they are very familiar with the caller on the other end of the line.”