In article >,
George > wrote:

> On 7/2/2010 11:06 PM, Terry Pulliam Burd wrote:
> > On Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:59:53 -0500, >
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Just call 911. It will connect you to the closest 911 operator that can
> >> then forward the call as needed to the most local dispatch.
> >
> > Not necessarily. Bill and I were traveling to Los Angeles from Orange
> > County on the 405 one day when, for no reason that we could see, a
> > truck suddenly went out of control and spun across about 5 lanes of
> > traffic, miraculously not hitting anyone, but smashed into a retaining
> > wall. This was near Long Beach. I dialed 911 and wound up with an
> > emergency dispatcher in *Cerritos* which isn't anywhere *near* Long
> > Beach. The dispatcher said she'd contact the LB emergency responders.
>
> Yes, many states (mine included) treated the mandatory e911 tax on
> cellphones as a windfall and used it for other stuff so many areas have
> systems that aren't ready for prime time.
>

The closest 911 dispatch might indeed be no where near where you are. :-)
Our local one serves the entire county which goes clear out past Kyle
and Buda. They serve the Sheriff, City Police (for two different
cities) and the fire dept.

They then contact the nearest emergency responders to your location.

It's why 911 dispatchers are so busy!
Local starting wages for the ones here are only $14.00 per hour too. :-(
--
Peace! Om

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