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Armenian delegation studies US emergency call system
Nov 6 2012
Story by 2nd Lt. Matthew Lucht
TOPEKA, Kan. - Emergency response was the main focus as a four-member
delegation from the Republic of Armenia visited Kansas emergency
responder organizations. Armenia recently adopted a U.S. model for
a 911 emergency system and Hovhannes Khangeldyan, head of Crisis
Management Center, and his colleagues were eager to see real-world
operations of this system.
"We are amazed and impressed with the high level of service that
you are providing for your population for managing disasters,"
said Khangeldyan.
The delegation started their tour at Shawnee County's 911 center Sept.
12 to gain a better understanding of how the system worked. Capt.
Lance Royer, deputy with Shawnee County Sheriff's Department, gave the
delegation a tour of the 911 center and the communication tower site.
He was able to demonstrate what technologies are in place to track
not only calls from land-line phones, but cell phones as well.
"They were interested in a lot of statistics," said Royer. "They were
interested in how our technology works and the software that we have
in our communication center."
After a tour of the center, the delegation had a round table discussion
with Topeka and Shawnee County law enforcement leadership, giving
them an opportunity to share and ask questions about the staffing of
the center and training of the operators, and gather more detailed
information about the entire system.
"I think that partnerships are good to have because anywhere we have
the same type of problems," said Royer. "It is good to see what the
other guy does, because maybe they have already solved a problem that
you have in your area of expertise."
The tour continued at the Kansas City Kan., Police Department, where
they were able to see the system operating within a larger populated
area. According to Capt. Robert Angell, Kansas City, Kan., Police
Department, the 911 center handles approximately 30,000 calls a month.
"[The delegation] has explained the system currently in place in
Armenia," said Angell, "and it sounds as though their system is in an
infancy and they are trying to figure out 'How could we improve? What
plans and procedures do you have in place that can help us?'"
The delegation gained as much information as possible from the
two different centers and will use that knowledge to improve their
emergency system for the future.
"I think that this is not only beneficial for Armenia, but for Kansas,
too," said Anahit Hovhannisyan, Armenian Education and Training
Specialist. "Sharing information makes the cooperation level higher
and higher."
The visit was arranged through the State Partnership Program, a
National Guard Bureau program that pairs developing nations with
state National Guard organizations to foster mutually beneficial
relationships, both military and civilian. Kansas has been partnered
with Armenia since 2003 and has engaged in multiple exchanges by
military and civilian agencies and organizations.
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/97388/armenian-delegation-studies-us-emergency-call-system
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Armenian delegation studies US emergency call system
Nov 6 2012
Story by 2nd Lt. Matthew Lucht
TOPEKA, Kan. - Emergency response was the main focus as a four-member
delegation from the Republic of Armenia visited Kansas emergency
responder organizations. Armenia recently adopted a U.S. model for
a 911 emergency system and Hovhannes Khangeldyan, head of Crisis
Management Center, and his colleagues were eager to see real-world
operations of this system.
"We are amazed and impressed with the high level of service that
you are providing for your population for managing disasters,"
said Khangeldyan.
The delegation started their tour at Shawnee County's 911 center Sept.
12 to gain a better understanding of how the system worked. Capt.
Lance Royer, deputy with Shawnee County Sheriff's Department, gave the
delegation a tour of the 911 center and the communication tower site.
He was able to demonstrate what technologies are in place to track
not only calls from land-line phones, but cell phones as well.
"They were interested in a lot of statistics," said Royer. "They were
interested in how our technology works and the software that we have
in our communication center."
After a tour of the center, the delegation had a round table discussion
with Topeka and Shawnee County law enforcement leadership, giving
them an opportunity to share and ask questions about the staffing of
the center and training of the operators, and gather more detailed
information about the entire system.
"I think that partnerships are good to have because anywhere we have
the same type of problems," said Royer. "It is good to see what the
other guy does, because maybe they have already solved a problem that
you have in your area of expertise."
The tour continued at the Kansas City Kan., Police Department, where
they were able to see the system operating within a larger populated
area. According to Capt. Robert Angell, Kansas City, Kan., Police
Department, the 911 center handles approximately 30,000 calls a month.
"[The delegation] has explained the system currently in place in
Armenia," said Angell, "and it sounds as though their system is in an
infancy and they are trying to figure out 'How could we improve? What
plans and procedures do you have in place that can help us?'"
The delegation gained as much information as possible from the
two different centers and will use that knowledge to improve their
emergency system for the future.
"I think that this is not only beneficial for Armenia, but for Kansas,
too," said Anahit Hovhannisyan, Armenian Education and Training
Specialist. "Sharing information makes the cooperation level higher
and higher."
The visit was arranged through the State Partnership Program, a
National Guard Bureau program that pairs developing nations with
state National Guard organizations to foster mutually beneficial
relationships, both military and civilian. Kansas has been partnered
with Armenia since 2003 and has engaged in multiple exchanges by
military and civilian agencies and organizations.
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/97388/armenian-delegation-studies-us-emergency-call-system
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress