Tag Archives: Emergency Communications

Putnam County’s Emergency Communications Board passed its 2023-24 Budget on the second reading Thursday. Director Penny Foister said this year’s budget stayed mostly the same as last year’s, with only a few minor things being changed to deal with rising costs due to inflation. “The fringe benefits that we pay for for our dispatchers, maintenance and support costs of course ... Read More »

The Overton/Pickett Emergency Communication Department hopes to update its phone system in the upcoming fiscal year. Director Chris Massiongale said the new phone system is being added to the next fiscal year’s budget, which will be voted on Thursday night. He said Tennessee mandates 911 phone systems be updated every five to ten years. “These systems are now capable of ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech had a successful test in a new alert system thanks to a partnership with Putnam County 911 and Emergency Management Agency. University Dispatch Operations Supervisor Elizabeth Clemons said the joint effort allows each entity to send out alerts if one group is facing communication issues. “For example if the county is not able to send a message due ... Read More »

Putnam County 911 will look to increase its department by adding two full-time dispatchers. Director Penny Foister said if the employees are included in the county budget this would bring the dispatch staff to 14. Foister said that calls are increasing across the board and funds are finally available to add staff. “We get money from the surcharges that you ... Read More »

Putnam County Emergency Communications expect the new 911 system to go live during the first part of May. Assistant Director Brandon Smith said they are moving into the second phase of testing for operational readiness. Smith said there was a delay in going live due to connection issues found during the first phase, involving wireless callers and the location service ... Read More »