Charlotte NC Finally Admits: "911 System not Ready"

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The system has failed 4 times in the last several months. They are doing a live test this morning at 8:30. If it fails, they will revert to manual. The reporters sound dumbfounded. Color me shocked...

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From www.wbtv.com:

The year 2000 is quickly approaching, but there are concerns that not everyone is ready for Y2K, including the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. Chief Darrel Stephens held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to address the concerns. He says crews are still working to make sure the computer-aided dispatch system is ready, but the department has contingency plans in place even if it's not. Some of the potential problems could include trouble accessing the state DMV computers and problems with the department's paging system, but officials stress they're prepared to handle the glitches.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), December 29, 1999

Answers

Kosky said yesterday that _all_ such systems were now ready. Therefore we can only conclude that North Carolina has seceded from the Union.

;-)

-- cgbg jr (cgbgjr@webtv.net), December 29, 1999.


But did he define "all"?

[g,d&r]

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), December 29, 1999.


www.charlotte.com/observer/local/pub/dispatch1229.htm

Dispatch systems still need tinkering Officials: Y2K woes, if any, won't be major

By BRADY DENNIS Staff Writer Charlotte's automated police dispatch systems might not be glitch- free come New Year's Day, but city officials say any problems aren't cause for concern.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has been working down to the wire to make sure its emergency communications systems are Y2K- compliant.

But problems keep cropping up, said Susan Johnson, Charlotte's Y2K coordinator.

"Sometimes as you repair a problem, you introduce new problems," Johnson said.

The 911 system itself, which is operated by BellSouth and displays a caller's name and address, isn't affected.

Instead, the latest problem is the software for the department's computer-aided dispatch, or CAD, system. The CAD system helps 911 operators by instantly sending emergency information to the proper dispatcher.

The Y2K-compliant version had errors that sidetracked the system.

As a result, dispatchers must use a manual system of writing down the caller's location and handing it to a courier, who verifies the address and gives it to the appropriate dispatcher.

Operators, who were still using the old automated system Tuesday, were scheduled to try the new system again at 8:30 a.m. today, afterpeak traffic hours.

Around 11 a.m., technicians will run a new set of tests to see if the bugs are gone.

If they are, then the systems should be ready. But if not, technicians will continue to tinker.

If the new automated system isn't operational come Friday night, the manual system should work just fine, said Police Chief Darrel Stevens.

"I don't think it will have much of an overall impact," Stevens said. "I would prefer it be operational, but I am confident that the manual method would do the job."

Stevens admitted that the manual process might be a bit slower. But he said that the number of police personnel on the streets should offset any delays.

More than 1,400 police officers will be on duty New Year's Eve, roughly twice the normal amount. Therefore, response time to incidents shouldn't take as long.

Moreover, 911 stations will have extra staffing for the evening.

"Our hope and our plan is that the testing will resolve these problems," Stevens said. "But it's important to reassure people that even if the plan doesn't work, we'll still be able to provide public safety."

Maj. Piper Charles, the department's information services manager, said residents probably wouldn't notice any difference.

"The number of officers will negate any delay in actually dispatching the call. So it shouldn't have any noticeable impact."

Charles said the glitch involves only the Police Department. Medical and Fire Department systems aren't affected.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), December 29, 1999.


Roland, I caught the story 2 times on local TV, and on those reports, the lady being interviewed seemed much more concerned than the above article from the Observer indicates? Like two different news stories?

Heck, I don't know, just got back online, dealing with a power surge or something that just kicked off all the breakers in the house. Glad I got those surge protectors. Just checking the news and going off line again.

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), December 29, 1999.


On local news tonight they said it was fixed today (Wednesday)

-- insider (in-the-know@mayberry.com), December 29, 1999.


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