Public outreach is necessary for wireless emergency alerts...
Public outreach is necessary for wireless emergency alerts in California, said Karen Wong, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES) assistant director-public safety, at a hearing Tuesday. The California State Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management held a hearing,…
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broadcast on The California Channel, on the state’s emergency response capabilities to learn more about the interoperability, fire, law enforcement and health efforts in emergency situations. Wong said CAL OES has four pilot programs for next-generation 911 in the northern part of the state and is looking into a pilot program in Ventura County for Phase 2 information to provide location-based routing. Through NG-911, citizens will get “robust support” and first responders will be able to get text messages, photos and video, she said. In its pilot programs, CAL OES has saved 29 hours in call times between September and December 2012 through location-based routing calls. Committee Chairwoman Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D) asked Wong how much the network would cost and when the system would be operational statewide. The system would be a joint project with providers, and it would cost “$2,000 to $3,000 for each initial hook-up” to the service,” said Wong. While this technology is available now, Wong said the system should be available within five years. Committee Vice Chair Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal (D) asked Wong if CAL OES had enough funding to implement its NG-911. Wong said costs still need to be identified and the State Emergency Telephone Number Accounts fund might need to be used. “We need to look more into using this technology on any device,” said Wong. The SETNA fund may help sustain the project in the long term, said CAL OES Director Mark Ghilarducci who also testified at the hearing. “Right now, we are figuring out the costs through our pilot program,” said Wong.