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Emergency services reports full staffing progress in dispatch, hazard-mitigation plan completed in-house
Summary
Emergency services leaders said the communications center is nearing full staffing, the county completed its hazard mitigation plan in-house (saving roughly $30,000), and ongoing outreach includes a county resource rally and community training partnerships.
Warren County Emergency Services reported staffing gains at the 9-1-1 communications center, completion of the county hazard mitigation plan in-house and a slate of community outreach and training events.
Melissa Moore of Emergency Services said dispatch is “fully staffed” in leadership terms with 34 dispatchers and seven supervisors, though four dispatcher vacancies remain and the department recently hired trainees from local career-center internship programs. Moore described a training regimen that exposes new hires to day, evening and night shifts to help them adjust to the different call types and noted a mandatory, confidential 45-minute wellness session for dispatchers with a clinician.
Moore said the county conducted the federally required five-year hazard mitigation plan development in-house rather than hiring a contractor, saving an estimated $30,000 and enabling the county to control plan content; the plan supports eligibility for FEMA disaster-mitigation and other grants. Emergency Services also reported community events and outreach including National Night Out, Safe on Main, school safety classes, and an annual county resource rally scheduled for Oct. 16 at the fairgrounds.
Moore provided call-volume statistics: the CAD system recorded more than 320,000 calls last year; by May of the current year dispatch had logged more than 64,000 calls (22,731 9-1-1 calls and 41,791 administrative calls). Commissioners praised recent hiring initiatives and training changes and asked staff to continue supporting new-hire retention and wellness.
No board action was taken; staff said they will continue recruitment and training activities and proceed with public-facing outreach events and training sessions.
