NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nashville is developing a new emergency communications backup plan.
“This is something revolutionary, exploring the feasibility of backing up specifically 911 calls in the event of a major network disaster,” said Stephen Martini, executive director of the Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications, in a statement.
The plan is a partnership with Fairfax County, Virginia, to aid each other in the event of a major network disaster.
“Fairfax County is similarly staffed and trained,” said Martini in a statement.
In the event of a local emergency, dispatchers at the Fairfax County Department of Emergency Communications would answer, process Nashville’s 911 calls and enter the information into a dispatch system accessible to both departments. Then, Nashville dispatchers can use local methods to send local police, fire, medical, and mental health clinicians to the scene using contingency networks, according to Martini.
Metro Nashville and Fairfax County are the first two agencies in the country to pursue governance authorizing such an agreement.
A resolution to approve the mutual aid agreement is going before Metro Council on Feb. 4.
