9.1 ALACHUA COUNTY 01/01/2016

9.1.1 SYSTEM SUMMARY

The Alachua County E911 system consists of one Primary 911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and one back-up PSAP. AT&T provides the E911 service.

Selective Routing is used to route calls. The system includes Automatic Number Identification (ANI) and Automatic Location Identification (ALI). The PSAP has fixed transfer, speed dialing, and 7-digit manual transfer capability.

The law enforcement, emergency medical, and fire service agencies within the boundaries of the Alachua County 911 system are Alachua County Sheriff, Alachua County Fire-Rescue, Gainesville Police, Gainesville Fire-Rescue, University of Florida Police, Santa Fe College Police, Alachua Police, and High Springs Police.

The contiguous counties to Alachua County are Union, Bradford, Putnam, Marion, Gilchrist, Levy, and Columbia. The Alachua County PSAP transfers callers to the Sheriff Offices of these counties via fixed transfer. Fixed transfer is also used to transfer callers to University of Florida Police, Florida Highway Patrol, Poison Control, Santa Fe College Police, Alachua Police, and Clay County Sheriff.

Two AT&T tandems and eleven end offices constitute the system routing schema utilized for the delivery of all 911 services within the County.

Alachua County began accepting text-to-911 SMS (short message service) on November 3, 2014. The TCS GEM911 web portal solution is currently in use and text-to-911 messages can be received at all 28 seats within the PSAP.

9.1.2 COMBINED COMMUNICATIONS CENTER (CCC)

The Combined Communications Center (CCC) is a consolidated PSAP and is located in Gainesville. CCC is managed by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. All 911 calls for Alachua County are routed to the CCC Primary PSAP. CCC dispatches all fire and emergency medical services within Alachua County as well as County Sheriff, Gainesville Police, and High Springs Police.

9.1.3 COMBINED COMMUNICATIONS CENTER (BACK-UP CENTER)

The back-up communications center is available 24 x 7 x 365 for activation. It also serves as a training facility for the CCC personnel. Should the primary PSAP be evacuated, the back-up center becomes the primary 911 answering point for Alachua County.

9.1.4 SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

The Alachua County E911 system is managed by an E911 County Coordinator. The responsible fiscal agent is the Board of County Commissioners.

9.1.5 INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS

The Alachua County E911 system has selective routing thereby eliminating all central office overlaps with adjoining counties. Alachua County has Interlocal Agreements with Levy & Columbia County’s to receive 911 calls during PSAP evacuations and service interruptions.

TABLE 9.1 – 1

ALACHUA COUNTY E911 SYSTEM DEFINITION

Alachua County Combined Communications Center

Location / Gainesville
Number of Answering Positions / 28
Type of Answering Positions / E911 Call Taker
Total Staff / 111
TTY / 28 – Integrated
Number of Logging Recorders / 1 Exacom
Number of Instant Playback Recorders / 28 – Integrated
Call Answering Equipment / AirBus Sentinel Patriot w/Orion Vela GIS
Incoming 911 Trunks / 18 = 12 wireless; 6 landline
Transfer Lines / 12 (dedicated transfer lines)
Text Messaging (SMS) / 28 – TCS GEM911 Web Portal Solution

Alachua County Combined Communications Back-up Center

Location / Gainesville
Number of Answering Positions / 10
Type of Answering Positions / E911 Call Taker
Total Staff / N/A
TTY / 10 - Integrated
Number of Logging Recorders / 1 Exacom
Number of Instant Playback Recorders / 10 - Integrated
Call Answering Equipment / AirBus Sentinel Patriot w/Orion Vela GIS
Incoming 911 Trunks / 16 = 10 wireless; 6 landline
Transfer Lines / 12 (dedicated transfer lines)
Text Messaging (SMS) / 10- TCS GEM911 Web Portal Solution

TABEL 9.1 – 2

ALACHUA COUNTY CALL HANDLING

AGENCY METHOD VEHICLE

Combined Communications Center

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office / Direct Dispatch / Radio
Alachua County Fire / Direct Dispatch / Radio
Alachua County EMS / Direct Dispatch / Radio
Gainesville Fire Dept. / Direct Dispatch / Radio
Gainesville Police / Direct Dispatch / Radio
FHP / Call Transfer / Telephone
Santa Fe College Police / Call Transfer / Telephone
City of Alachua Police / Call Transfer / Telephone
City of High Springs Police / Direct Dispatch / Radio
University of FL Police / Call Transfer / Telephone

The Alachua County Primary PSAP receives emergency calls for fire and EMS response within the entire county and dispatches the following municipal and volunteer fire departments in addition to the County and City of Gainesville fire stations within the county:

Newberry FD / Direct Dispatch / Radio
Cross Creek VFD / Direct Dispatch / Radio
High Springs FD / Direct Dispatch / Radio
Windsor VFD / Direct Dispatch / Radio
LaCrosse VFD / Direct Dispatch / Radio
Windsor VFD / Direct Dispatch / Radio
Micanopy FD / Direct Dispatch / Radio