Lt. General Russel Honoré, U.S. Army (Ret.), to Deliver Opening Keynote Address at 9-1-1 Industry Alliance National Workshop on 9-1-1 Overload
ARLINGTON, VA., Sept. 20, 2011 — The 9-1-1 Industry Alliance (9IA) is pleased to announce that retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré will be the opening keynote speaker at the 9IA National Workshop on 9-1-1 Overload. The event is being held on October 4-5, 2011, at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center in Washington, D.C.
Honoré, who served as the 33rd commanding general of the U.S. First Army at Fort Gillem, Ga., may be best known for his service as the commander of Joint Task Force Katrina. In that capacity, he led the U.S. Department of Defense response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
“Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast in 2005 the United States has made strides toward achieving what I call a Culture of Preparedness,” said Honoré. “However, there’s still a lot of work to do. 9-1-1 overload is a growing problem that can significantly affect emergency and disaster response. I look forward to addressing leading public safety authorities and government officials on the critical issue of 9-1-1 overload and the importance of doing everything possible to alleviate it.”
Throughout the country, hundreds of 9-1-1 centers are receiving far more emergency phone calls than they can reasonably answer in a short period of time.
In May, more than 150 people in Joplin, Missouri lost their lives in what became the deadliest single tornado to strike the United States in nearly 60 years.
Not surprisingly, the two public safety answering points (PSAPs) that serve citizens in the area were overwhelmed with hundreds of calls from people in desperate need of emergency assistance. Unfortunately, there simply weren’t enough phone lines or call-takers to answer all the cries for help.
“We were overloaded,” recalls April Tarrant, Jasper County 9-1-1 director. “Within the first hour, we handled nearly 400 9-1-1 calls. By the time 24 hours had elapsed the number of calls had grown to approximately 1,400.”
Hosted by 9IA, the workshop is being sponsored by CTIA-The Wireless Association® and co-hosted by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO), the NG 9-1-1 Institute and the National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators (NASNA).
Additional speakers include:
- Gregg Riddle, president, APCO International
- Blair Sutherland, director of telecommunications for the Massachusetts State Police
- Liz Graeber, 9-1-1 administrator for the Maricopa Region in Arizona
- Teddy Kavaleri, acting director for the Washington, D.C. Office of Unified Communications
- Matt Rechkemmer, E-911 program manager for Lee County, Florida
- Steven Gordon, director, Orleans Parish 9-1-1
- Lynn Questell, executive director of the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board
- John Healy, FCC, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau
To register or learn more about the 9-1-1 Industry Alliance’s National Workshop on 9-1-1 Overload please visit www.9-1-1overload.org.
About the 9-1-1 Industry Alliance
The 9-1-1 Industry Alliance (9IA) represents the industry voice for the emergency communications field. Established in December 2005 by a group of prominent industry leaders, the Alliance plays an important role as the voice of companies on public policy issues impacting 9-1-1 and the emergency response system. Alliance members believe that industry leaders’ expertise can assist public policymakers and government emergency communications professionals as they address complex choices regarding advanced 9-1-1 alternatives in the years ahead. Find out more at www.911alliance.org.
About CTIA
CTIA-The Wireless Association® (www.ctia.org) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry’s voluntary best practices and initiatives, and sponsors the industry’s leading wireless tradeshows. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, DC.
About NENA
NENA serves the public safety community as the only professional organization solely focused on 9-1-1 policy, technology, operations, and education issues. With more than 7,000 members in 48 chapters across the United States and around the globe, NENA promotes the implementation and awareness of 9-1-1 and international three-digit emergency communications systems. NENA works with public policy leaders, emergency services and telecommunications industry partners, like-minded public safety associations, and other stakeholder groups to develop and carry out critical programs and initiatives, to facilitate the creation of an IP-based Next Generation 9-1-1 system, and to establish industry leading standards, training, and certifications. Find out more at www.nena.org.
About APCO International
APCO International (www.apcointl.org) is the world’s largest organization of public safety communications professionals. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide—and the welfare of the general public as a whole—by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
About the NG 9-1-1 Institute
Formerly known as the E9-1-1 Institute, the NG 9-1-1 Institute is a non-profit organization which shares the mission of the Congressional NG 9-1-1 Caucus to assist in promoting public education on NG 9-1-1 and emergency communications issues. The NG 9-1-1 Institute provides informational support to members of the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus as they pursue their mission of improving 9-1-1 emergency communications. Gregory L. Rohde serves as the Executive Director and Carla A. Anderson serves as the Deputy Executive Director. Find out more about the NG 9-1-1 Institute at www.e911institute.org.
About NASNA
The purpose of NASNA is to promote information sharing among states with programs dedicated to implementing 9-1-1 emergency telephone systems. NASNA assists states with resolving issues necessary to accomplish statewide implementation and maintenance of their 9-1-1 systems, along with helping to identify and recommend minimum standards for 9-1-1. To learn more about NASNA, please visit www.nasna911.org.