16-05-2025
New mobile command center set to transform 911 in Kansas
SALINA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas 911 Coordinating Council rolled out an emergency mobile dispatch center, calling it a game-changer for emergency response in the Sunflower State.
The state-of-the-art mobile unit is designed to support 911 dispatchers, a concept that began in 2021 to address the shortage of 911 training across the state.
Council officials say the unit will provide operational assistance wherever needed.
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'I represent the Kiowa County where the Greensburg Tornado occurred, and that was one of the things that they needed to have,' said Rep. Kyle Hoffman, House Assistant Majority Leader (R).
A mobile dispatch center can replace a 911 center when a natural disaster strikes '…and either provide them additional seats to take overflow or surge calls or to replace their 911 center,' said Scott Eckberg, who is a technical support specialist for the Kansas 911 coordinating council.
It can be driven to any emergency site across Kansas.
'This emergency mobile dispatch and training center has the ability to connect to any of those public safety answering points or 911 centers anywhere in the state,' said Eckberg.
Providing 911 centers with additional seats to take overflow calls.
'Take care of our own,' said Haskell County Sheriff Troy Briggs. 'We take them to a system that's customized for the state of Kansas, it was built for us, we're the first one out. This type of system that we are now. We can do that training that is consistent with how our system is set up in Kansas.'
The primary function is to provide hands-on training for rural centers.
'So if we can take the training to them, and make it a half-day event rather than a day to travel back, then to travel back than a half day to train it will make it much easier to provide good training,' said Eckberg.
The mobile command center will be housed in Great Bend for now. Helping those who answer the call, every day.
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