Worcester County Emergency Services History
The Worcester County Public Safety Answering Point (9-1-1 Center) is located in Room 1002 of the Worcester County Government Center in Snow Hill, the County Seat. It is a combination of the 911 Center and the Emergency Management agency for Worcester County.
In July of 1985, the State of Maryland mandated that each county in the state of Maryland have a Public Safety Answering Point to receive 911 emergency calls.
The Worcester County Public Safety Answering Point is a multi faceted office with public safety the primary concern. The Communications Center receives the 911 calls for the entire county. It direct dispatches nine of ten fire companies and six of seven ambulance companies via a county wide radio system and utilizes the State EMS System. Along with the volunteer fire and ambulance companies the center has the responsibility for dispatching the Worcester County Fire Marshals Office and the Worcester County Medical Examiners. The Communications Center dispatches the Worcester County Sheriff's Department. and one local police department full time, (Snow Hill Police) and has the capabilities of dispatching other local police services upon request.
All Communication Clerks are trained in Fire / EMS dispatching as well as law enforcement communications. Clerks are required to undergo a 40-hour ECS (Emergency Communications Specialist) class, as well as 24-hour classes in EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatch), EFD (Emergency Fire Dispatch) and EPD (Emergency Police Dispatch). These classes teach how to give pre-arrival instructions for all types of medical, fire and police emergencies prior to the arrival of units on the scene.
All clerks are required to attend a two-day class for certification on the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) computer. This certification allows the clerks to perform criminal history, warrant confirmations, license and registration checks. In addition clerks also enter missing persons and stolen property information for local law enforcement agencies.
These are two of the six consoles located in the 911 Center:
Home
