Improving emergency communication

Communication in emergency situations can often mean the difference between life and death. Boone County is not unlike many counties who experience “no coverage” issues with their emergency equipment.

Boone County Board of Supervisors, E911 Service Board and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office have been developing a plan that will help close the coverage gaps and tie in with a statewide network.

“Right now, when we get down by the river, communication can be very spotty,” says Boone County E911 Administrator Rick Lampe. “Our old system, set up in 2011, is not functioning as it should. There are just not enough towers.”

The State of Iowa recently entered into a contract with Motorola to erect 68 towers around the state, as part of ISICS (Iowa Statewide Interoperability Communication System). The system is designed to help  public safety and public service personnel to communicate and share data on an immediate basis.

Motorola, the Boone County Board of Supervisors and the E911 Service Board have been in negotiations over the past several years coordinating funding for infrastructure on nearby towers, what Lampe says is probably the most important part of the whole E911 system.

Read more in the May 24 issue of The Ogden Reporter.