Garrett County Government announced that county 9-1-1 communications have transitioned under the Garrett County Government, Emergency Management Division. This move strengthened the coordination and service continuity across law enforcement, fire, and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) responses to local and regional incidents.
9-1-1 Communications division receives and processes all emergency 9-1-1 calls for assistance, including fire, EMS, and police. Once sufficient information has been gathered, the dispatcher alerts the appropriate response agencies, maintains communications, and logs all pertinent information.
Additionally, all 9-1-1 staff maintain a national Emergency Medical, Fire and Police Dispatch certification to allow pre-arrival instructions to be administered to those reporting emergencies.
9-1-1 Communications staff began operating from the county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) mid-September with around-the-clock staffing in mid-October. The EOC provides hard-wired infrastructure, redundant power, communications, and direct proximity to emergency management personnel: all key advantages in response to local matters, major incidents, and severe weather.
The previous facility at the Sheriff's Office will continue to be utilized by the Sheriff's Office Communications Officers and maintained into the future as a backup 9-1-1 center.
"Residents haven't experienced any change at all when they dial 9-1-1. This transition of services simply puts our 9-1-1 staff and technology in the best position to serve the public as fast as possible, in a more efficient manner, and with more redundancy. We are excited to have staff operating from our state-of-the-art facility in McHenry," said Justin Orendorf, Director of Emergency Management.
Key Details:
- Call 9-1-1 for any emergency. The number, process, and service levels remain the same.
- To reach fire and rescue communications non-emergency line call 301-334-1929.
- To reach the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line call 301-334-1911.
The Department of Emergency Management is coordinating closely with the Sheriff’s Office, local fire and EMS companies, municipal partners, and state agencies to continually ensure uninterrupted services.
