NATCHEZ — Adams County’s emergency dispatchers have a new home, leaving behind a cramped basement beneath the sheriff’s office for a stand-alone facility with updated equipment and more room to work.
The move in August gives the county’s E-911 Dispatch Center a more comfortable setting after years of damp conditions, mold and sewage odors that made retaining employees difficult, according to reporting by the Natchez Democrat.
“They’re just so comfortable because it’s just like they have their own house now,” center director Annette Fells told the Natchez Democrat.
The center handles emergency calls for Natchez and Adams County law enforcement, fire and ambulance services. It is fully staffed with 12 dispatchers, with three assigned to each shift. Four dispatch consoles provide space for training and additional help during busy periods.
Fells credited the Adams County Board of Supervisors with helping make the move possible.
The facility also brings expanded telephone capacity and technology that can give dispatchers a clearer picture of emergencies. Prepared Live software allows dispatchers to send callers a link and, with their participation, view live video from their phones. That can help dispatchers share useful details with responders before they arrive.
“Most of our callers are distraught,” Fells told the Natchez Democrat. “They can’t tell you what’s going on or whatever.”
Residents should continue to call 911 for emergencies. The center’s nonemergency number is 601-417-0440.
This article is based on reporting first published in the Natchez Democrat, to view their article click here
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