InterAct Public Safety Systems Helps Advance Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska E9-1-1 Services

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Winston-Salem, NC (PRWeb) November 27, 2006 -- Fastest growing borough in Alaska is replacing its manual call taking system with InterAct computer aided dispatch (CAD), geographic information system (GIS) and Fire and EMS records management systems.

In August of this year, the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough faced the worst flooding in recent history as four major rivers and three creeks in the area rose to record heights washing out roads, bridges, houses and buildings. The flooding on the Chulitna River was a 500-year event, the same peak on the river had not happened in about 500 years. Two other creeks experienced 100 year events. The Emergency Services Department deployed the first joint dive rescue team in the state, borrowing resources from military bases and another city.

Fortunately, no one was killed or injured during this trying time, but Mat-Su was federally declared a disaster area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) visited the Mat-Su to help assess the damage. Being able to provide FEMA with detailed records of the events and emergency actions taken during the flooding is of utmost importance. However, the borough's manual systems made it virtually impossible to record and report this information.

The floods brought the much needed updating of their dispatch operations to the forefront. They have chosen InterAct Public Safety Systems, a leading provider of public safety technology used by local, state, national, and international government agencies, to outfit them with up-to-date technology and have purchased InterAct's computer aided dispatch (CAD), geographic information system (GIS), fire and EMS records management systems to enhance their E911 services.

"One of the things we really like about InterAct was how user friendly it is. We know we'll be able to get our new system up and running quickly with minimal training," said Dennis Brodigan, director of emergency services for Mat-Su Borough. "From an administration standpoint it will be nice to have the new records management system in place. This will allow for situations, like we are in now with FEMA and the floods, to be handled with much more ease."

Located 40 miles north of Anchorage, Mat-Su Borough is the 31st fastest growing community in the nation and is almost as large as the state of West Virginia with a wide variety of terrain ranging from sea level to an altitude of 20,320 feet. It includes three very active glacial rivers as well as the highest mountain peak in the United States, Denali, also known as Mount McKinley. The mountain range brings a large number of tourists to the area, making the need for GIS software even more important. If a tourist calls 9-1-1 on a cell phone, their location will be displayed on the GIS map; this pinpoint location is beneficial since tourists may not know their exact location to tell dispatchers.

In partnership with Palmer City Police Department Dispatch Center, Brodigan was able to purchase the new systems with funding from the Department of Justice COPS Technical Grant. CAD will allow dispatchers to quickly and easily take calls and send the appropriate, readily available emergency response to the call. The GIS software will allow for emergency services to locating the caller quickly. Mat-Su Borough is also pro-actively setting up a separate back up center for its dispatch services to ensure 9-1-1 service can stay running without interruption in the event that their primary center becomes inoperable.

InterAct's software is scheduled to go live in January 2007. "InterAct was an easy choice to make," said Brodigan. "They met our needs for modular design; it is easy for our dispatchers to use, but at the same time very comprehensive. We're looking forward to using the new system."

About InterAct Public Safety Systems
Since 1975, InterAct Public Safety Systems has been Making Connections for Life™ providing both stand-alone and fully integrated mission-critical public safety and homeland security systems and products. As the pioneers of the first three-screen E911 system 20 years ago, our passion for innovation is leading the way to Next Generation telephony, dispatch, records management, and mobile data systems. We're extending the definition of public safety with unique applications like intelligent digital video surveillance, alert notification, and crisis management systems. InterAct is a one-stop shop and sole point of contact for everything from furniture and hardware to large-scale custom system development. InterAct makes it possible for first responders from private, state, local and national agencies to decrease response times and increase their effectiveness in the communities they serve. Learn more at http://www.interact911.com or by calling 1-800-768-3911.

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