Due to weather related calls, 911 centers throughout Western Washington are being overwhelmed. Because of this, emergency responders are asking for patience as they deal with the various calls the icy weather has caused, as well as the normal emergency call volume.
On a typical day, 911 calls are routed directly from emergency call receivers to dispatchers of the police and fire departments. During a weather related event such as the one we are currently having, the call volume has gone up several-fold. The increased numbers include calls for power lines falling, wires starting fires in tree limbs, branches blocking roadways, stranded motorists, and injuries due to falls.
Because of the high call volume, many call centers are prioritizing the incoming calls and dispatching crews to those calls based on a set of criteria. Any calls involving life safety are always the most important followed by protecting property and the environment.
Emergency crews will get to all of the 911 calls as quickly as possible given the road and weather conditions. The public can assist this process by doing the following:
1. Give as much information as possible about what you are reporting. The location, any immediate life threat, threats to property or environment, and any other important facts.
2. If you are reporting power lines which have fallen, look and see if the line is tagged with colored tape, cones, or street signs. This indicates that the situation has already been reported and acted on. There is no need to call
911 again.
3. Be patient. Again, due to high call volumes the calls may be prioritized with non-critical situations being temporarily delayed.
4. If you simply need information, please look online or in the phonebook for the appropriate agency. Do not use 911 for that purpose.
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