On Sunday, crews were putting the finishing touches on a brand-new dispatch center set to open in just a few weeks. County leaders said the facility will bring all emergency services under one roof — handling calls for both the county and the city of Lucedale.
“Having this new upgraded system is going to definitely benefit the community for the county. And as far as our law enforcement officers, our fire and EMS personnel, everybody’s going to benefit from this system,” Eric Howard, the George County EMA director and fire coordinator, said.
That means when you dial 911, dispatchers will coordinate law enforcement, fire and EMS all from one central hub. But it’s the technology inside that’s turning heads.
The new system can pinpoint a caller’s location — even if they’re moving down the highway or lost in the woods — helping first responders find people faster than ever before. It also introduces text-to-911, giving people a silent way to ask for help in dangerous situations… like domestic violence cases where making a call isn’t safe.
“Instead of trying to call in the past and be alerted that you’re calling the authorities, you can simply just text us. You can text the dispatch center and it’s just like you were texting your friend or something like that to try and get help,” Howard said.
The system also includes live translation—allowing dispatchers to communicate instantly with non-English speakers. Officials say this is the biggest communications upgrade the county has seen in decades and a major step toward the state’s next-generation 911 system.
