Escambia County is excited to announce the successful launch of Next Generation 9-1-1 Core Services, marking a major advancement in how emergency calls are routed, managed, and delivered to first responders throughout the county.
The new call-routing system sets a new standard for public safety communications. It immediately delivers enhanced capabilities, including Location-Based Routing, which intelligently directs 9-1-1 calls to the nearest public safety answering point based on the caller’s precise location.
“Next Generation 9-1-1 modernizes the way we respond to emergencies in Escambia County,” Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore said. “With enhanced call routing and improved location data, we are expanding access to emergency services while strengthening our ability to respond during everyday emergencies and large-scale disasters.”
Next Generation 9-1-1 provides emergency dispatchers and first responders with access to significantly more data, which improves situational awareness and decision-making during emergencies. Enhanced features include real-time caller location information and intelligent call routing designed to reduce call transfers and speed emergency response.
Motorola’s Location-Based Routing has been shown to reduce 9-1-1 call transfers by up to 50 percent, minimizing delays caused by misrouted calls. This capability is especially critical during large-scale incidents and natural disasters, when emergency call volume may rapidly increase. If a public safety access point becomes overwhelmed or inoperable, enhanced call routing allows calls to be quickly rerouted, ensuring uninterrupted access to emergency services.
“Motorola’s call routing technology gives us new ways to better protect the people we serve,” Interim Emergency Communications Chief Mark Carter said. “For example, geofencing allows us to manage large annual events like the Pensacola Beach Blue Angels Air Show more efficiently by deploying alternate call routing during peak times. This ensures emergency calls from thousands of visitors are handled quickly and effectively.”
Escambia County is one of several communities utilizing Next Generation 9-1-1 call-routing service, which serves many other counties in Florida. According to Chief Carter, the transition to the new system was the smoothest technology deployment he has experienced in his many years of service with Escambia County.
To learn more about Escambia County Emergency Communications, visit MyEscambia.com.
