Preparedness and Communications

The dispatch center serving Benton and Franklin counties will take non-emergency calls with AI starting next week. Staff will reportedly save three hours per day and callers won't have to wait on hold for help.

North Dakota lawmakers are exploring telemedicine as a solution to the shortage of paramedics and volunteer first responders statewide. One option connects responders in ambulances with medical providers for support.

After the death of a person in police custody during a system malfunction and other repeated issues, city lawmakers will investigate the computer-aided dispatch system that is "prone to freeze-ups and outages."

A study from the National Emergency Management Association and Deloitte finds that the cycle of response to and recovery from both natural and human-made disasters is not sustainable. Investing in prevention is critical.

The project from the state Department of Environmental Quality mimics nature’s way of handling excessive rainfall, using a large retention pond and indigenous plants to capture water and slow its release into a nearby creek.

A study found that homes built with fire-resistant materials and that had cleared vegetation within 5 feet of walls, in line with California's proposed "zone zero" regulations, were more likely to survive the January wildfires.

Energized by a donation, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s drone program now handles everything from search and rescue to fighting blazes and setting prescribed burns.

Boulder County this week awarded about $2 million to mainly rural fire districts in the third round of fall grants from the Emergency Services Sales and Use Tax.

Stolen data from the data breach was published online as emergency management and law enforcement officials in jurisdictions across the country took their subscriptions offline.

Between 2019 and 2025, California paid four tech companies over $450 million to build out its Next-Generation 911 system, but it didn't work as planned. A pivot to a new plan could cost hundreds of millions more.

Clark County first responders report their current 911 infrastructure is long overdue for a digital transformation. The county proposes a $1 monthly fee per telephone line to help offset costs.

NERIS is set to replace a 50-year-old emergency incident reporting program on a Jan. 1 nationwide rollout. The new system has presented business opportunities for suppliers of government technology.

A new after-action report from the Los Angeles Police Department says poor coordination with the Fire Department contributed to evacuation delays and chaos during the Palisades Fire in January.

Currently the city spends over $1 million a year on EMS transport for its frequent 911 callers, most of whom have a mental health diagnosis. The iPads will connect them with help, relieving strain on first responders.

As part of National First Responders Day, Gov. Kathy Hochul highlighted new initiatives including a program that aims to assist public safety agencies to create or improve their own responder wellness efforts.