911 Commission

911 Commission

9-1-1 Emergency Center Communications

The Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Communications Center is the public safety answering point for the Counties of Accomack and Northampton. All 9-1-1 calls are received by the ESVA911 Communications Center. Police calls are transferred to local Sheriff's Offices or the Virginia State Police for handling and dispatching. Fire and emergency medical services calls are handled and dispatched directly to fire and EMS agencies by the staff of the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Communications Center.

In addition to receiving wireline 9-1-1 calls, the Eastern Shore 9-1-1 Center also serves as an answering point for cellular and other wireless 9-1-1 calls. The Center is committed to receiving Enhanced Wireless 9-1-1 Service as it develops pursuant to the Federal Communications Commission's Docket 94-102.

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is also located with ESVA911 for any consolidated Emergency Services operations of the two counties and the Town of Chincoteague, as well as housing the Accomack County Emergency Operations Center.

More information is available at the website for the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Communications Center.

PUBLIC NOTICE

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE/COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICE SERVICES

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DRAFT FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW REGIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM

EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA – ACCOMACK AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES, VA

Interested parties are notified the Department of Justice (DOJ) through the Community Oriented Police Services (COPS) Program issued a draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), based on an Environmental Assessment (EA) provided by the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Commission (ESVA 9-1-1 Commission). The purpose of the EA  is to assess the effects on the human and natural environment on the ESVA 9-1-1 Commission’s implementation of a new radio system (serving local public safety and other local governmental communications needs) for which the COPS program is providing funding assistance approved by the United States.

The proposed project, the implementation of a P25, trunked, digital, simulcast regional radio system, will utilize towers/facilities located at the following locations:
1. American Communications Tower (located at/around 6150 Community Drive, Chincoteague, VA),

2. Town of Chincoteague/CPD Tower (located at/around 6150 Community Drive, Chincoteague, VA),

3. Accomack County Tower (located at around 14306  Lankford Highway, Mappsville, VA),

4. Accomack County Tower (located at/around 23323 Wise Court, Accomac, VA),

5. Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Center facility (located at/around 23201 Front Street, Accomac, VA),

6. Commonwealth of Virginia/State Police Tower (located at/around 23201 Front Street, Accomac, VA),

7. County of Accomack Tower (located at/around 32198 A S West Road, Craddockville, VA),

8. Northampton County Water Tower (located at/around 5211, The Hornes, Eastville, VA), and,

9. Commonwealth of Virginia/State Police Tower (located at/around  20371 Seaside Road, Eastville, VA).

Public safety agencies on the Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESVA), including law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, and 9-1-1/dispatch utilize wireless communication networks as a critical aspect of their operations. These uses of the radio systems, with older/antiquated disparate systems used in the ESVA region, include communications to/from dispatch and field personnel, as well as communications between field personnel operating at an emergency incident. The current radio systems in the ESVA region are older and degrading with frequent performance issues, such as coverage gaps and a lack of needed interoperability for different public safety disciplines . Operating on the current, inefficient radio systems not only impacts public safety personnel, but their ability to best serve the public and their critical needs during emergencies. A properly performing radio system provides this increased coverage, efficiency, and effectiveness to operations, thereby promoting the public’s safety and their welfare; which is the purpose of this project. 

The purpose of the Draft EA is to analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with the use and needed construction at the identified tower sites/locations. The draft FONSI, from the COPS program, affirms the proposed action will not have a significant impact on the human and natural environment. The draft EA and draft FONSI will be made available for review at the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Commission at 23201 Front Street, Accomac, VA 23301. The draft FONSI also can be viewed at the 9-1-1 Commission’s website at www.esva911.org. The public notice is being published in the Eastern Shore Post and at the tower sites/locations identified. The ESVA 9-1-1 Commission invites the public to comment on the proposed action during a thirty (30) day comment period, which will conclude on November 26th, 2023. Written comments may be mailed to: ESVA 9-1-1 Commission, 9-1-1 Director, P.O. Box 337, Accomac, VA 23301. Comments also may be e-mailed to [email protected] or faxed to 757-787-1044. If no substantive comments are received, the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) will become final, leading to a Final Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) being issued.


 



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CITIZEN INPUT
Now Available

WHAT IS CITIZEN INPUT?

Citizen Input is a cloud-based service that allows 9-1-1 callers to send videos, photos or live, streaming video to the 9-1-1 Center in a controlled, permission-based procedure.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

When a person calls 9-1-1 using a mobile phone, the 9/11 Dispatcher can send a link to the caller's phone by text requesting photos, video, of a live stream No app download is required on the caller's phone

HOW DOES IT HELP 9-1-1?

The 9-1-1 Dispatcher will be able to see what the caller is seeing, enhancing the call-taking process. The 9-1-1 Dispatcher can then share the video, photos, or live stream with responding personnel.


 


Department Staff Information

Jeffrey A. Flournoy
9-1-1 Director

[email protected]


Phone 757-442-0911
Fax 757-787-1044

ESVA 9-1-1 Center
23201 Front Street
PO Box 337
Accomac, VA 23301-0337