Nebraska 911 centers say $55 million could help save lives

Funds would help upgrade 911 call centers across the state

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – There are 68 public safety answering points across Nebraska. Each site needs to upgrade its systems as mandated by the state.  They are hoping to be given $55 million for just that.

“We just want to make sure that everybody knows that every call does count and every call is important. We just want to be able to deliver the most professional and dedicated service that we can,” said Jay Meyer, chair of the Region 26 council.

Cristine Herek is an unfortunate example of why these systems need an upgrade.  She died from an asthma attack after it took over an hour for first responders to find her.  She called 911 from her cellphone and lived only 1 block from the fire department, but her location was unable to be seen from a cellphone.

“The funds that we are looking for right now would help our 911 centers tremendously,” said Alma Beland, director of Region 26. “We have aging equipment.”

A big problem is that current 911 systems in Nebraska are unable to keep up with the times.

“We are in a 1970s system, and people are relying on that, and these first responders are relying on that ability to communicate and try to mitigate these dangerous situations and make a difference in peoples’ lives,” said Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha.

So Beland and other officials made their case for the $55 million on Wednesday to the Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

“The radio console system has become really expensive, and to be able to upgrade that. We have equipment at tower sites that need upgrading,” Beland said. “There is always a continual of what their taxpayer dollars have to go to to take care of dispatcher wages, which is always increasing to deal with trying to keep dedicated workers in our 911 center.”

It is often harder for smaller counties to keep up on equipment, as they use their taxpayer dollars to pay for it.

“With the state mandates that are being put on our 911 communication centers, the appropriation funding would be a quick fix, but we want to expand it through all 68 PSAPs across the State of Nebraska because we want all 911 communication centers to have the communications that they need,” said Diana Hurlburt, a Garfield county commissioner.

You never know when you may need to call for help.

The idea came to McDonnell after speaking with those who answer phone calls day in and day out.

He said he wants to “make a dangerous situation better and actually give a better service to the citizens of the state of Nebraska.”

No immediate actions were taken by the Appropriations Committee.  It must first add these funds to the budget, which will then be debated by the rest of the senators later this session.