Governor DeWine announces next steps toward statewide 9-1-1 communications

Governor Mike DeWine announced in a news release Friday the next steps that Ohio will be taking toward expanding statewide 9-1-1 communications.

According to the release, the Ohio Department of Administrative Services will expand the Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) technology into 15 additional counties to help get critical information to first responders in emergencies.

Ten pilot counties that are now fully implementing the NG91-1-1 technology include:

• Athens
• Carroll
• Champaign
• Columbiana
• Harrison
• Monroe
• Morgan
• Union
• Van Wert
• Washington

NG9-1-1 modernizes how Ohioans can interact with 911.

Citizens would be able to contact 911 via text, smartwatches and other wearable technology in emergencies with the NG9-1-1 technology.

According to the release, statistics from Washington County, call centers in the area have seen significant increases in correctly routed calls.

Additionally, fewer emergency calls ae being unnecessarily routed to and from the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

"The most important function of government is to protect its citizens, and Next Generation 9-1-1 is a critical investment to protect the safety of Ohioans and help our local law enforcement agencies," said Governor DeWine.

DeWine continued," When Ohioans are experiencing an emergency, they deserve to know that help is on the way quickly, and that's exactly what Next Generation 9-1-1 does."

Counties that have begun the onboarding process for the NG9-1-1 technology include:

• Allen
• Belmont
• Fairfield
• Guernsey
• Hardon
• Hocking
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Marion
• Muskingum
• Noble
• Perry
• Pickaway
• Ross
• Vinton

Mahoning County is listed as a future location of NG9-1-1 technology in a map from the Ohio 9-1-1 Program Office website.

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