DISCLAIMER: Sumner County Emergency Communications makes every attempt to maintain this website with accurate information. At times however, the
information presented here may become temporarily out-dated. The user should always check with the source of the information before using it in any official
capacity. Neither Sumner County, Kansas nor Sumner County Emergency Communications are responsible for out-dated information or the content of links
outside of this site.
information presented here may become temporarily out-dated. The user should always check with the source of the information before using it in any official
capacity. Neither Sumner County, Kansas nor Sumner County Emergency Communications are responsible for out-dated information or the content of links
outside of this site.
CREDITS: Some photos obtained from www.morguefile.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Sumner County 911 Emergency Communications
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SUMNER COUNTY, KANSAS
Sumner County 911 Emergency Communications
Q. Why do I get a different county when I call 9-1-1?
A. Telephone company boundaries do not necessarily match geographical or political boundaries. Most
Sumner County borders are configured so that calls are routed to Sumner County Emergency
Communications. There are some areas however that are not, and those calls go to dispatch centers in
adjoining counties. All counties surrounding Sumner County have the capabilities of transferring those
calls to our dispatch center and either do so, or process the call themselves and notify us to dispatch
responders. It would be nice if all areas of Sumner County were routed to our dispatch center, but the
cost of configuring the system to do so is too prohibitive.
Q. Why do I have to have an address? Won't my RFD work?
A. Physical addresses are needed to pinpoint your location. These addresses are stored in a computer
database, and sent to the dispatch center when you call 9-1-1. RFD only designates a mail route, not a
physical location. Addresses also allow visitors or those unfamiliar with the area to give a location based
on house numbers and street signs.
Q. Why does the dispatcher have to ask so many questions?
A. Dispatchers try to obtain as much information about the emergency to determine which responders
need to be sent and to prepare those responders for what they'll encounter once they are on the scene.
Standard Operating Guidelines dictate the nature of the questions they ask depending upon call type.
Even though the dispatcher is asking numerous questions, rest assured that help is on the way and has
been dispatched once the location and nature of the emergency has been determined.
Q. Isn't it quicker just to call the sheriff, police, or fire department direct?
A. Without 9-1-1, you have to remember and dial seven digit numbers (sometimes eleven digit numbers if
you're calling long distance). 9-1-1 is nationally known and designated as the emergency number so
even visitors or travelers can use 9-1-1 to report incidents. Dispatchers can also simultaneously dispatch
police, fire, EMS, or Emergency Management with your single call to 9-1-1. Without 9-1-1, there are
often delays in calling multiple agencies, and in the communication between these agencies.
Q. When I called 9-1-1, my address was wrong in the computer. Why?
A. Changes in the computer database may take up to one week to be updated. If you've recently moved
or changed telephone numbers, the database may simply not be updated yet. When changes are made
to addresses or telephone service, your telephone company sends those changes to AT&T who in turn,
updates the database. There is always the potential for human error when these data entries are made.
This is why dispatchers always verify your location, and if the address is wrong in the database,
dispatchers will submit a report to the telephone company to remedy the problem.
Q. Why do I call 9-1-1 even if its not an emergency?
A. Emergency Communications is responsible for dispatching police, fire, EMS, and Emergency
Management, whether those calls are emergencies or not. Any time you need someone to respond to
your house, emergency or not, you should dial 9-1-1.
Q. Why do I have to call 9-1-1 to report I will be having a controlled burn?
A. State law requires that when someone is going to set a controlled burn, they notify the local fire
department and the Sheriff's Departments to make them aware of the fire. Since 9-1-1 serves as the
central dispatch for all response agencies, you call 9-1-1 to report your controlled burn.
Q. I accidentally called 9-1-1, but even though I told the dispatcher everything was okay, the
police still came to my house.
A. Many times a crime victim will call 9-1-1, but be forced to hang up by a suspect or assailant. Even
though you report everything as okay, it could be someone trying to cover up a crime. Police will still
respond to see first hand, that you are safe.
Q. Why did it take 9-1-1 so long to come to my house?
A. First, 9-1-1 doesn't respond to calls. Public safety dispatchers staff a dispatch center that receives
calls, then dispatches the police, fire, and EMS units that respond to your call. Many agencies cover
large areas, and response times can be lengthy. Also, if units are busy with other emergency calls, they
must finish those calls before they can respond to yours. All calls are dispatched immediately; if field
units are busy, they themselves prioritize the calls according to the level of the emergency.
A. Telephone company boundaries do not necessarily match geographical or political boundaries. Most
Sumner County borders are configured so that calls are routed to Sumner County Emergency
Communications. There are some areas however that are not, and those calls go to dispatch centers in
adjoining counties. All counties surrounding Sumner County have the capabilities of transferring those
calls to our dispatch center and either do so, or process the call themselves and notify us to dispatch
responders. It would be nice if all areas of Sumner County were routed to our dispatch center, but the
cost of configuring the system to do so is too prohibitive.
Q. Why do I have to have an address? Won't my RFD work?
A. Physical addresses are needed to pinpoint your location. These addresses are stored in a computer
database, and sent to the dispatch center when you call 9-1-1. RFD only designates a mail route, not a
physical location. Addresses also allow visitors or those unfamiliar with the area to give a location based
on house numbers and street signs.
Q. Why does the dispatcher have to ask so many questions?
A. Dispatchers try to obtain as much information about the emergency to determine which responders
need to be sent and to prepare those responders for what they'll encounter once they are on the scene.
Standard Operating Guidelines dictate the nature of the questions they ask depending upon call type.
Even though the dispatcher is asking numerous questions, rest assured that help is on the way and has
been dispatched once the location and nature of the emergency has been determined.
Q. Isn't it quicker just to call the sheriff, police, or fire department direct?
A. Without 9-1-1, you have to remember and dial seven digit numbers (sometimes eleven digit numbers if
you're calling long distance). 9-1-1 is nationally known and designated as the emergency number so
even visitors or travelers can use 9-1-1 to report incidents. Dispatchers can also simultaneously dispatch
police, fire, EMS, or Emergency Management with your single call to 9-1-1. Without 9-1-1, there are
often delays in calling multiple agencies, and in the communication between these agencies.
Q. When I called 9-1-1, my address was wrong in the computer. Why?
A. Changes in the computer database may take up to one week to be updated. If you've recently moved
or changed telephone numbers, the database may simply not be updated yet. When changes are made
to addresses or telephone service, your telephone company sends those changes to AT&T who in turn,
updates the database. There is always the potential for human error when these data entries are made.
This is why dispatchers always verify your location, and if the address is wrong in the database,
dispatchers will submit a report to the telephone company to remedy the problem.
Q. Why do I call 9-1-1 even if its not an emergency?
A. Emergency Communications is responsible for dispatching police, fire, EMS, and Emergency
Management, whether those calls are emergencies or not. Any time you need someone to respond to
your house, emergency or not, you should dial 9-1-1.
Q. Why do I have to call 9-1-1 to report I will be having a controlled burn?
A. State law requires that when someone is going to set a controlled burn, they notify the local fire
department and the Sheriff's Departments to make them aware of the fire. Since 9-1-1 serves as the
central dispatch for all response agencies, you call 9-1-1 to report your controlled burn.
Q. I accidentally called 9-1-1, but even though I told the dispatcher everything was okay, the
police still came to my house.
A. Many times a crime victim will call 9-1-1, but be forced to hang up by a suspect or assailant. Even
though you report everything as okay, it could be someone trying to cover up a crime. Police will still
respond to see first hand, that you are safe.
Q. Why did it take 9-1-1 so long to come to my house?
A. First, 9-1-1 doesn't respond to calls. Public safety dispatchers staff a dispatch center that receives
calls, then dispatches the police, fire, and EMS units that respond to your call. Many agencies cover
large areas, and response times can be lengthy. Also, if units are busy with other emergency calls, they
must finish those calls before they can respond to yours. All calls are dispatched immediately; if field
units are busy, they themselves prioritize the calls according to the level of the emergency.