North Raleigh Today

Emergency telecommunicators at the Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communications Center are being recognized during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. This event honors those who respond to emergency calls and dispatch necessary emergency professionals and equipment.

Duana Dailey, Emergency Telecommunications Supervisor, speaks highly of her role, stating, “It’s the most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life, and I could not be prouder to do it with such an amazing and selfless group of people.”

The Center handles over 500,000 calls annually and faced substantial challenges this year, notably managing calls from Buncombe County during Hurricane Helene. In a three-hour period, over 1,500 calls were answered.

Paula Clark, an Emergency Telecommunicator, highlights the significance of Telecommunicators Week as an opportunity to celebrate her team. She explains, “The long shifts, the difficult calls, the emotional toll — and yet we come back, day after day, because we care. We answer the call, every single time.”

The celebration is supported by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International. Center Director Dominick Nutter emphasizes the vital role of call-takers and telecommunicators. Nutter states, “Our call-takers and telecommunicators play a crucial role in saving lives. This week is a reminder of the recognition they deserve – year-round – for the critical support they provide to first responders and the public.”

The ECC, known as Raleigh-Wake 911, is responsible for dispatching and central communications for multiple emergency services, serving a population of over one million residents.