Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District

08/06/2026

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 9

Many emergencies involve more than one agency.

A traffic crash may involve law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical responders, a tow company, and transportation officials. A wildfire may involve multiple fire agencies, law enforcement, emergency management personnel, utility companies, and other support organizations.

One of the dispatcher’s responsibilities is helping keep those agencies connected by sharing information, coordinating resources, and supporting communication throughout the incident.

While responders are working in the field, dispatchers continue documenting activity, relaying updates, and helping ensure information reaches the right people at the right time.

Emergency response is a team effort, and emergency communications plays an important role in keeping that team connected.

This is Week 9 of our Emergency Communications Explained series, where we share how emergency communications works and what happens behind the scenes when someone calls for help.

07/30/2026

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 8

Not all 9-1-1 calls are handled the same way.

The information needed for a police response may be very different from the information needed for a fire or medical emergency. That’s why dispatchers ask different questions depending on the situation.

For example, police calls may focus on suspect information, vehicles, or ongoing activity. Fire calls often focus on hazards, building information, and life safety concerns. Medical calls may involve patient symptoms, injuries, or providing emergency medical instructions before responders arrive.

While the details may differ, the goal remains the same: gathering the information needed to connect callers with the right resources and support responders as they make their way to the scene.

This is Week 8 of our Emergency Communications Explained series, where we share how emergency communications works and what happens behind the scenes when someone calls for help.

07/29/2026

The Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District Advisory Committee held its regular quarterly meeting on July 28, 2026, bringing together representatives from law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, local government, and other public safety partners to discuss the future of emergency communications in Columbia County.

Many people are familiar with our elected Board of Directors, but fewer know about the Advisory Committee and the important role it plays in the District’s governance.

As an independent special district, Columbia 9-1-1 is organized under Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 401.857, which requires every communications district to establish an Advisory Committee. The committee is composed of representatives from the agencies and jurisdictions served by the District and serves as a formal advisory body to the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors is responsible for establishing District policy, adopting budgets, and making final decisions. The Advisory Committee provides operational expertise, discusses emerging challenges, evaluates opportunities, and makes recommendations that help inform those decisions. This structure ensures the agencies that rely on the 9-1-1 system every day have a voice in its continued development.

During this quarter’s meeting, the committee received updates on District operations, staffing, training, and technology initiatives. Members also recognized the District’s Oregon APCO Commitment to Excellence Award-winning Training Team and heard vendor presentations regarding options for modernizing Columbia County’s public safety radio system. The committee discussed long-term radio system planning and agreed to hold a special meeting to continue evaluating available options before making recommendations to the Board of Directors.

The Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District is committed to transparent government and collaborative public safety. We appreciate the time and expertise our Advisory Committee members contribute in support of the communities we serve.

Meeting agendas, approved minutes, and additional information about the District and its Advisory Committee are available at www.columbia911.com.

July Meeting Recording:
https://youtu.be/lU520efr5g0?si=OpGJKb8IpepNKssJ

Meeting documents:
https://www.columbia911.com/general/meeting/advisory-committee-meeting-23

07/28/2026

🚨 JUNE 2026 BY THE NUMBERS 🚨

Summer activity is increasing across Columbia County, and Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District remains at the center of the response.

During June, our team answered:

📞 7,235 total phone calls
☎️ 2,032 emergency 9-1-1 calls

Our dispatchers also coordinated 7,167 public safety activities, including:

🚔 5,348 law enforcement calls for service
🚦 755 of those were traffic stops
🚒🚑 1,064 fire and emergency medical calls

Although total incoming calls decreased slightly from May, the amount of public safety activity coordinated by our center increased by nearly 22%. Law enforcement calls for service increased by approximately 31%, while traffic-stop activity increased by nearly 9%.

These statistics represent the combined work of the entire public safety system. Behind every number is a community member needing assistance and a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical responder, or other public safety partner relying on timely information and dependable communication.

Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District currently operates with 11 certified dispatchers and 2 dispatchers in training. Because trainees cannot work independently, their Certified Training Officers must remain dedicated to supervising and guiding them throughout each shift. This means two-person training teams function operationally as a single working position while new dispatchers develop the skills needed to serve independently.

We are proud to serve alongside our law enforcement, fire, EMS, and public safety partners, and we remain committed to being there for our community whenever help is needed.

07/23/2026

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 7

When you call 9-1-1, dispatchers do more than answer the phone and send help.

Information gathered from callers is shared with responding police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel through radios, mobile computers, mapping systems, and other emergency communications tools.

Responders often receive more than just an address. Depending on the incident, they may receive information about injuries, hazards, suspect descriptions, access instructions, changing conditions, and updates provided by callers.

As situations change, dispatchers continue updating responding units to help them prepare for what they will encounter when they arrive.

This is Week 7 of our Emergency Communications Explained series, where we share how emergency communications works and what happens behind the scenes when someone calls for help.

07/20/2026

❤️ Monday Morning 9-1-1 Quiz: Sudden Cardiac Arrest

You’re attending a parade, festival, or community event when someone suddenly collapses. They’re unconscious and making occasional gasping or snoring-like sounds.

Would you know what to do?

Many people mistake these sounds for normal breathing, but they can actually be a sign of cardiac arrest. When someone is unconscious and not breathing normally, every second counts.

That’s why the correct answer is:

✅ Call 9-1-1 and start CPR.

Immediate CPR and AED use can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. The sooner chest compressions begin, the better the outcome may be.

Don’t let a lack of training stop you from helping. Our dispatchers will quickly determine if a patient may be in cardiac arrest and provide CPR instructions over the phone while we start help. We’ll stay on the line, coach you through each compression, and support you until first responders arrive and take over care.

One of the most important things to remember is that gasping, snoring, or occasional breaths are not normal breathing. If someone is unconscious and only making these types of sounds, call 9-1-1 immediately.

You don’t have to be a medical professional to save a life, sometimes being willing to make the call and follow instructions is enough to make all the difference.

07/16/2026

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 6

Many people assume that once responders have been dispatched, the 9-1-1 call is over. In reality, emergency communications often continues after help has been sent.

Depending on the emergency, dispatchers may ask callers to stay on the line to provide updates, answer additional questions, or receive pre-arrival instructions. In other situations, dispatchers may disconnect and return to answering other emergency and non-emergency calls for service.

Every emergency is different, and dispatchers continuously prioritize resources based on the circumstances of the incident and the needs of the community at that moment.

One of the most important things you can do after calling 9-1-1 is let us know if something changes. A person’s condition may worsen, a suspect may leave the area, a fire may spread, or new hazards may develop. Updated information can be relayed to responders while they are en route and may affect how they approach the situation.

If something changes, call us back.

This is Week 6 of our Emergency Communications Explained series, where we share how emergency communications works and what happens behind the scenes when someone calls for help.

07/13/2026

🐎 Monday Morning 9-1-1 Quiz: Fair & Rodeo Safety

The Columbia County Fair & Rodeo is a great opportunity to enjoy animals, exhibits, competitions, and community events. While most visits are safe and enjoyable, working around large animals comes with risks.

Today’s question: Someone is kicked by a horse and briefly loses consciousness. What should you do?

The correct answer is:

✅ Call 9-1-1

Any loss of consciousness following a traumatic injury should be treated as a potentially serious medical emergency.

Sometimes a person may wake up quickly and say they feel fine. However, even a brief loss of consciousness can indicate a head injury, neck injury, internal injury, or other serious medical condition that isn’t immediately obvious.

If this happens at the fairgrounds, rodeo, or any livestock event, call 9-1-1 right away. Our dispatchers will gather information about the injury, dispatch the appropriate responders, and provide instructions while help is on the way.

One of the most important things you can do is know your location. Fairgrounds can be busy and unfamiliar to some, so be prepared to tell us exactly where you are—such as the arena, barn, livestock area, or nearby landmark. Accurate location information helps responders reach the patient as quickly as possible.

If the patient’s condition changes while you are waiting for help, call us back immediately.

Stay calm, know your location, and let us get the right resources moving.

07/09/2026

📡 Emergency Communications Explained – Week 5

Many people are surprised to learn that dispatchers may provide medical instructions before responders arrive.

When someone calls 9-1-1 for a medical emergency, Communications Specialists use Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) protocols to gather information about the situation and provide approved pre-arrival instructions when appropriate.

These instructions may include CPR, choking emergencies, severe bleeding, childbirth, overdose emergencies, and other life-threatening situations.

While responders are on the way, dispatchers continue gathering information, providing updates, and supporting callers through the emergency.

This is Week 5 of our Emergency Communications Explained series, where we share how emergency communications works and what happens behind the scenes when someone calls for help.

07/07/2026