By Sue Schultz
News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
Copyright 2006 News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
All Rights Reserved
The goal is to have emergency agencies throughout the state linked to a common channel to communicate with one another.
But three years into the state’s program, much of the Piedmont Triad has yet to be linked to the new system.
The Viper system - which stands for Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders - a $189 million project, was created three years ago by Gov. Mike Easley.
After disasters like the Sept. 11 attacks , the state wanted to develop a system where police could talk to fire departments, EMS workers and even Highway Patrol officers across county lines and throughout the state.
Although each county has its own emergency communications system and often shares with neighboring counties, the state system could create channels through which all of these groups could communicate at one time.
Roughly 40 counties and cities statewide are already linked to the 800 mHz system. In some counties, local emergency agencies have started using the system to communicate with state agencies such as the Highway Patrol.
“Realistically, this will be used in more regional events,” said Lt. Everett Clendenin, a Highway Patrol spokesman.
Michigan, South Carolina and Florida have similar systems, and Minnesota is putting one into place.
State and federal grants have provided about $88 million for the project through 2006. But the state would ultimately like to see about 238 sites - including the Piedmont Triad - linked to the system.
Alamance, Rockingham and Randolph counties are already linked to the system.
Two years ago, Randolph County received a $650,000 state grant to upgrade its communications system and purchase equipment that could link to the Viper system, said Neil Allen, the county’s director of emergency services.
The county has tested its link to the new system but hasn’t yet used it in an emergency situation.
But elsewhere in the Piedmont Triad - Guilford, Forsyth and Davidson counties - emergency management teams are still waiting on funding.
“Right now, there is no impact on us,” said Alan Perdue, director of emergency services for Guilford County. “The Viper system and our system aren’t connected yet.”
However, Perdue said the county can still link into state agencies through an older system and can also share communications with Burlington and Forsyth County.
He said the county already has an emergency communication system that could easily be connected to the state’s new system when more funds become available.
But some already working with the new system say it’s not foolproof.
In Randolph County, emergency management teams often have trouble communicating because of the county’s size and rural environment.
County officials said the state’s new system made the problem worse, often leaving large sections of the county without any coverage.
“We’ve told them about the situation, but they tell us it will cover it,” said Allen. “It’s just not feasible.”
He said the system seems to work well along major roads like Interstate 40, but doesn’t always reach many of the dirt roads throughout the county.
State officials said the system is still being improved and that until it’s completed there may be dead zones where no coverage is available.
Allen said Randolph County can still use the Viper system, but relies more heavily on its own communications.