EVERETT — Emergency responders in Snohomish County are using a new tool to track 911 calls and look for trends.
Some of the first examples that have come up were 911 calls dropping during the Super Bowl and the start of flu season, said Crystal Ayco, the operations coordinator at SNOPAC, the dispatch center serving Everett and most of northern and eastern Snohomish County.
They can compare what’s happening to previous years as well, she said.
“It’s a pretty dynamic system,” she said.
The software, called FirstWatch, can anticipate the need for certain emergency resources, Ayco said. It also is equipped to send email and text alerts to police and fire leaders if certain trends or events are under way.
Examples would be arsons, burglaries, sex-crimes and car thefts, according to a news release.
Emergency trends involving health conditions also are shared with local public health organizations.
SNOPAC, based in south Everett, handles roughly 1,500 911 calls every day for 37 police and fire departments.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.