LEHIGH CO., Pa. – State funding is headed to 911 centers across Pennsylvania, including Lehigh County.
“Pennsylvania’s 911 system is the first connection to help when someone is facing their darkest moment,” said Randy Padfield, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency director.
Padfield said the reauthorization of the monthly phone surcharge from $1.65 to a $1.95 is crucial.
“Over the first twelve months after that increase, Pennsylvania collected an additional $58 million or 18 percent revenue boost for the 911 services, which is really critical,” said Padfield.
Lehigh County received around $9.4 million from the state last year, a number PEMA says will increase.
Money will be used for employee retention and to keep systems updated.
“The system that supports those calls- the dispatchers, the technology, the radio networks, the mapping systems and the training all requires stable funding to operate at the level our community expects,” said Tanya Cook, Lehigh County Emergency Management coordinator.
The investment will fund advancements of the statewide Next Generation 911 system.
“The system improves caller location data, enhances reliability, provides the backbone for services like text to 911 when dialing 911 in unsafe or difficult situations,” Padfield states.
Officials say Lehigh County receives around 490,000 911 calls a year.
“Every day our 911 center, they’re the first point of contact for people who are experiencing their most frightening moments of their lives,” said Don Smith, Lehigh County 911 director.