FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OPCD Activates Level 2 Staffing
in Preparation for Storm in Gulf Coast
NEW ORLEANS, LA (July 10, 2019) – The Orleans Parish Communications District (OPCD) is actively preparing for the impact of tropical weather expected to hit the New Orleans metro area over the next several days. At 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, the agency will go to Level 2 staffing, an emergency staffing mechanism utilized to increase staffing by 50%. Level 2 staffing is designed to ensure OPCD meets and maintains staffing needs during a planned or unplanned emergency. This additional staffing will allow the agency to ensure the resources are on hand to process all calls for service.
“Our number one priority is to ensure that the citizens of New Orleans are able to communicate with first responders during emergency and non-emergency situations,” stated Executive Director Tyrell Morris. “OPCD is always prepared to take on high call volumes at a moment’s notice, as demonstrated during the flooding event this morning. Activating Level 2 Staffing ensures that, should our citizens need us during a state of emergency, our telecommunicators will be ready and waiting to take their calls and get them the help they need.”
OPCD telecommunicators worked diligently during the flooding event that occurred on the morning of Wednesday, July 10, 2019, taking approximately 4,200 emergency and non-emergency calls from New Orleans Citizens. Of those calls, there were 1,034 emergency calls, 285 non-emergency calls and 2,953 NOLA-311 calls. Of those calls, OPCD processed approximately 280 flooded street calls and 20 flooded vehicle calls.
“We want to assure the citizens of Orleans Parish that, should they need us, we are prepared and ready to take their calls,” Morris continued. “Our facility redundancy and resiliency systems have been tested and performed as designed. In addition to 9-1-1 services, 3-1-1 services will continue to be available 24/7 both by phone and the web.”
About Orleans Parish Communications District (www.911nola.org)
Formed in 1982, the Orleans Parish Communication District is the public safety answering point (PSAP) for all emergency communications via 9-1-1 within Orleans Parish. The agency employs over 140 individuals and provides emergency medical dispatch, emergency fire dispatch, and emergency police dispatch for the millions of annual visitors and residents of the City of New Orleans. OPCD is a member of the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).
OPCD Contact:
Marcus W. Creel, MS
OPCD Public Engagement Manager
601.319.2024
[email protected]
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