Southeast Communications Center
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I call 9-1-1?
- You should call 9-1-1 when you need immediate help either for yourself or someone else from police, fire, or emergency medical personnel. If you are unsure you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1 and let the communications center decide what action to take.
- Do NOT call 9-1-1 for information. By doing so, you tie up phone lines and precious time for others with real emergencies. Refer to your phone directory for the business numbers of your local police and fire departments.
- Do NOT call 9-1-1 to report a power outage. Click here for information on what you should do if your electricity goes out.
What happens when I call 9-1-1?
The phone system will route your call to the appropriate area's communication center. The call taker will ask several questions, such as the location of the emergency, the nature of the emergency, and when it occurred. They will also ask for your name, phone number, home address, and any other details that may assist the responders.
It is important to stay calm and answer all the all taker's questions. The communications center will dispatch your emergency to the appropriate responders. You may be asked to stay on the phone until a responder arrives. The call taker may also provide basic first aid instructions when needed.
What is Enhanced 9-1-1?
Depending on what type of phone you are using, the Enhanced 9-1-1 address-based phone system makes it possible to identify a phone number and the location from which the 9-1-1 call is placed. However, Enhanced 9-1-1 is only relied upon in extreme emergencies, thus the call taker will always ask for your location and phone number. SE-COMM implemented Enhanced 9-1-1 service in Benton County in 1998.
What if I call 9-1-1 by mistake?
Do not hang up! When the 9-1-1 call taker answers, just tell him or her that you called by mistake. If you just hang up, the call taker does not know if an emergency actually exists at the location from which the call originated.
With Enhanced 9-1-1, in most cases the call taker will see the caller's name phone, number and address. They might call you back to ensure that you are safe or they might even send a police officer to the address to ensure that there is not a problem.
Children often call 9-1-1 and just hang up. If this occurs, the call taker will normally dispatch a police officer to the caller's location to emphasize the importance of calling 9-1-1 only in an emergency.
How can I become a 9-1-1 dispatcher?
Successful 9-1-1 dispatchers have a number of traits that allow them to effectively respond to calls for assistance. They remain calm while talking to individuals in life-threatening situations. They react quickly, prioritize calls, and provide correct instructions to the caller. They are able to multi-task, coping with interruptions and not losing track of important communications. And they must be able to enter information via keyboard quickly and accurately.
Applicants go through 12 months of training and supervised activity before working independently as a dispatcher. Aptitude and attitude are much more important than experience and education.
For more information on becoming an emergency dispatcher, please call us at (509) 628-2600 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you are interested in joining our team of professionals, please visit the city of Richland's web site or call the city's Human Resources Department at (509) 942-7392 .
Do you allow tours of the 9-1-1 Center?
Although we no longer allow tours inside the 9-1-1 Center, we do have large windows that allow visitors to see the dispatchers at work. If you or your organization is interested in such a tour, please call us at (509) 628-2600.
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