WWW.WSCERT.NET
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 2006
January - February - March 2013
ELMA / WEST SENECA SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 2006
JANUARY - FEBRUARY - MARCH 2013
elma Ed Sauer - Emergency Manager (716) 652-7635 cert@elmanewyork.com meetinGS - 7:00 pm 2nd Wednesday of the Month • January 9th • February 13th • March 13th Training and meetings are held at the Elma Senior Center unless noted. Elma Senior Center Bowen Rd. Elma, NY 14059
* Town Hall 3007 1600 Bowen Rd. Elma, NY 14059
The ability to access emergency services by dialing 911 is a vital component of public safety and emergency preparedness. It is imperative that consumers of telephone service be able to reach emergency services regardless of the technology used to place a 911 call. E911 systems automatically provide to emergency service personnel a 911 caller’s call back number and, in most cases, location information.
direct the closest emergency personnel to that location. They also often can automatically identify your telephone number so that they can call you back if you are disconnected.
Since VoIP service works differently from traditional phone service, consumers who upCominG aCtivitieS use it should be aware that VoIP 911 service • Gardening Classes may also work differently from traditional • CERT Class 911 service. VoIP service providers, in reVoIP (voice over internet phone) service al- sponse to FCC action, are making progress • HAM Radio lows you to make and receive calls to and in eliminating these differences, but some Check here for updates from traditional phone numbers using an of the possible differences include: www.elmanewyork.com/oem/ECert.htm internet connection. It can be used in place • VoIP 911 calls may not connect to the of traditional phone service. While you may PSAP, or may improperly ring to the WeSt SeneCa choose to use VoIP service from a single administrative line of the PSAP, which location, like a residence, some VoIP serJohn Gullo - Emergency Manager may not be staffed after hours, or by vices can be used wherever you travel, as (716) 558-3238 trained 911 operators; long as a broadband Internet connection is jgullo@twsny.org available. The most commonly used VoIP • VoIP 911 calls may not connect to the correct PSAP and may be routed to a meetinGS - 7:00 pm providers locally are Time Warner, Vonage VoIP provider’s 911 call center. The 3rd Monday of the month and Magic Jack. call should then be directed to the cor• January 21st Traditional phone services usually have asrect PSAP by the provider’s call center, sociated a particular phone number with a • February 18th but it may delay response time. fi xed address. Portable VoIP service enth • March 18 ables consumers to take their home or busi- • VoIP 911 calls may correctly connect to the PSAP, but not automatically ness phone service almost anywhere. This Unless noted Training and Meetings transmit the user’s phone number and/ portability raises a number of challenges for are Held : or location information; the emergency services community. There West Seneca Kiwani’s Center are differences between VoIP E911 and tra- • VoIP 911 calls may not connect to the 50 Legion Parkway ditional E911 service, so there are things West Seneca, NY correct PSAP if the address/location that consumers need to know. information is not accurate. CusaCtivitieS tomers should take care to provide When you call 911 from a traditional tele• CERT Class jurisdiction (city, town, village, etc.) phone, the call in most cases is sent to a • Critical Infrastructure Survey information rather than your mailing Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that address, if they differ, to their VoIP proCheck here for updates is responsible for a particular geographic viders. Customers need to update this www.wscert.net area or community. PSAP personnel often information if they change locations, can automatically identify your location and