Agenda - 04-20-2010 - 4h - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

ATTACHMENT #3: Public Safety Communications Improvements Project Specifications Backup Antennas: The Orange County E911/Communications Center maintains telephone, data and radio communications with: Caldwell Volunteer Fire District Carrboro Fire Rescue Carrboro Police Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire District Chapel Hill Fire Department Chapel Hill Police Durham County EMS Efland Volunteer Fire District Eno Volunteer Fire District Hillsborough Police Mebane Fire Department New Hope Volunteer Fire District North Carolina Forestry North Carolina Sate Highway Patrol North Chatham County. Fire Orange Grove Volunteer Fire District Orange Rural (Hillsborough) Fire District South Orange Rescue Squad UNC Public Safety White Cross Volunteer Fire District The center was designed as the. replacement for the aging former center at 1914 New Hope Church Road and contains only the basic components to maintain radio connectivity throughout the area. In the event a mechanical or electronic malfunction occurs to the primary (only) antennas, the center will lose communications with those areas and units affected by the particular antenna that fails. The center is located at the same location as the County's Emergency Operations Center and must remain operational in the event key figures are relocated to the EOC to maintain governmental services during or after a disaster. The antennas are one component that are vital to the continuity of operations. Portable and Mobile Radios: The basic communication component of the first responder is the portable ("walkie-talkie") assigned to most field personnel. As a safety component, the portable is indispensable in assuring the safety and welfare of the individual in the event he/she is threatened, enters a hazardous area or requires immediate backup to mitigate a threat. Coupled with the mobile radio installed in the police cruiser, fire truck, ambulance or command vehicle, the system requires a complex matrix of channels, zones and frequencies to ensure all responders can maintain interoperability. During emergency events the incident can quickly become chaotic with many different agencies communicating with the E911/Communoications Telecommunicator coordinating the crosstalk by assigning various channels to the different disciplines -police, fire, EMS. The system is software-driven requiring each portable and mobile radio to be programmed to synchronize the dozens of frequency combinations/. The initial programming enabled the system to "go-live" and use a review period of the initial year to determine if any corrective frequency updating would be necessary. Following a meeting with the users, reprogramming is necessary to ensure all zones, channels and frequencies work together properly without interference. The orange mayday button will also be included in the reprogramming process to allow first responders access to this critical emergency feature. This action will allow firefighters and other first responders to activate the 6