Emergency 9-1-1 has been established to provide a quick and appropriate response to emergencies. Please, do not call 9-1-1 for non-emergency situations or for routine information.

Your Role as the 9-1-1 Caller

As the caller, you play a crucial role in an emergency situation. The dispatcher cannot see what you are seeing or the situation you are in. Therefore, you must act as the dispatcher’s eyes in the situation. The more information that can be shared with the dispatcher regarding the situation the better. You are a critical part in ensuring that the proper people and equipment get sent to the emergency.

Emergency Dispatchers

When calling 9-1-1, the dispatcher will be the first person you speak to. These professionals have the ability to contact emergency responders directly through advanced radio communications. Grand Island/Hall County dispatchers are trained and follow written standard operating procedures established by each department, and can provide emergency medical instructions to you over the phone.

When you call 9-1-1, be prepared to answer a variety of questions, which vary depending on what the situation and circumstances are. For medical emergencies, a dispatcher will ask for the person’s age, gender, if the patient is conscious and/or breathing and the chief complaint of the person. Questions like these are asked to determine the type and number of responders need to be sent to the situation and at what urgency.

Stay Calm, Help is on the Way

Remember, stay calm and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Help will be there shortly. Your ability to comply with the instructions we provide may save a life.

To get help quickly individuals must be ready to answer these questions:

• Where is the emergency?
  Use highway and street names, direction of travel, mile markers, intersections and landmarks.
  

• What number are you calling from?
  Always give your area code and phone number.
  

• What exactly has happened?
  Clearly describe what has taken place. For example: What is on fire? Where is the patient? Is the patient conscious and breathing? 
  

• Vehicles and suspects descriptions?
  Provide us the body style, color, make, model of all vehicles involved, including their direction of travel.  Describe suspects by age, gender, size, appearance, clothing.
  

• Are there weapons?
  When reporting any crime, describe the type of weapons and who is carrying them, including handguns, rifles, shotguns, knives, or other improvised weapons.

Locating Your Wireless Phone Call

The Grand Island Emergency Communications Center has the technology to map cell phone calls when location data are provided by your phone and wireless provider.  This technology is called Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1).

However, not all wireless phones or carriers may provide location information, or information from your phone may take several seconds to reach our system.  Check with your wireless provider to determine if your phone or the provider's system will provide an enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) location.

Our Agencies

The Grand Island Emergency Communications Center serves all local emergency response agencies within Hall County, including the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff, Grand Island Fire/EMS Department, Grand Island Rural Fire Department(FD)/Quick Response Team (QRT), Cairo FD/QRT, Wood River FD/Rescue, Alda FD, St. Libory FD/QRT and Doniphan FD/QRT.