History of Union County 911

The first radio system operated in Union County was a base station, licensed in 1954, and housed at the William Cameron Engine Company, Lewisburg. In 1963, a county-wide communications system was established. It was based in the Union County Sheriff's Office and operated by Sheriff and Mrs. William F. Haas. Gradually, five ambulance services, seven fire companies and five police departments, as well as the Union County Emergency Squad were incorporated into the system. In 1976, Union County decided to join the Appalachian Region Commission Demonstration Project, coordinated by SEDA Council of Governments. The concept behind the project was to develop a model for centralized EMS, Fire and Police communications systems in a rural region. The project region involved ten counties: Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Snyder, Tioga and Union. In 1977, the Watsontown Police Dept. joined the system. The Fire Dept and Ambulance Service followed in 1978. By 1985, all agencies in Northumberland County, north of Point Township, had joined the system. In 1986, EMTS and CARE Medical Ambulance Services also joined. In addition to the ambulance services, the first Advanced Life Support (ALS) Unit was established by the Evangelical Community Hospital.

In 1989, after a change in the Communications Advisory Council rules for coverage, the Point Township Fire Dept and the Northumberland Fire Dept also joined the system.

September 11th, 1978 was the official dedication and opening of the Union County Communications Center. This was also the first center in the SEDA-COG project area to be operational.It provided major improvements in communications capability with improved coverage, medical patches, the ability to interface field units on different radio frequencies or bands with a telephone patch, a two position console linked by microwave to the mountain transmitter site on New Berlin Mountain, additional base stations at the courthouse tower and trained telecommunicators.

Additional improvements followed, to name a few:

  • A single emergency telephone number "8-1-1" was established, as the first step toward the implementation of system wide "9-1-1".
  • New radio frequencies and a logging recorder were obtained.
  • Two Emergency Management Agency (EMA) projects provided a warning system in schools, hospitals and institutions; and a paging and communications capability for local EMA Coordinators.
  • In July, 1984, a new telephone system was installed. It proved additional phone lines as well as basic "9-1-1" service.
  • A Pennsylvania State Police CLEAN terminal was installed.
  • A third tower site, located in Milton.
  • Radio links with PennDOT, DER, Forestry and other agencies.

After the tornadoes of May 31, 1985, the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) was expanded and remodeled. This provided improved electrical power distribution, additional backup radio capability, and a portable command post. Funding from the TMI Fund and Act 147 has enabled Union County to purchase additional portable and mobile radios, pagers, an Early Broadcast System (EBS) radio capability, an additional computer and software, additional warning receivers and training and video equipment. As a result of a special project, conducted by the PA State Police with Union and Lycoming Counties, the new State Police radio system was implemented in 1987.

This allowed State Police to communicated with local police through shared radio frequencies (regional and national). A computerized Emergency Management geo-relational database system (EIS) was installed in 1986 to improve data management and disaster response. In 1987, the chemical version of EIS was added to deal with requirements of SARA Title III, and an intergovernmental police records project was funded by a DCA grant, providing additional computer capability and a computerized police records system.

In 1988, Union County celebrated it's 10th year anniversary. Since then, there have been several changes. Additional staffing has been added, as well as new radio equipment.In 1994, the radio room was moved to a location down the hall from the first, to a larger area. This provided more room for the radios and other equpiment. The present center has three console positions. The two primary positions have identical radio equipment.The third position has a computer console with all radio channels available.

Union County has also added to it's radio system three new tower sites. In addition to the Milton, New Berlin and Court House sites, a site was added at Muncy Hills, on the Woodward Mountain and on the Sand Mountain Fire Tower. Also added were several new radio frequencies. This allows for better handling of tactical incidents by moving them to a dedicated radio channel and freeing the dispatch channels for other emergencies.

As of January 2001, per new state law, all dispatchers in the center are fully state certified in the following areas: 911 Call Taker, 911 Fire Dispatcher, 911 EMA Dispatcher, 911 Emergency Medical Dispatcher, and 911 Police Dispatcher. These certifications are similar to the Emergency Medical Technician Certification in that to remain a dispatcher, you must continue to train and keep the certifications current.