Dispatch is on the front line when winter weather strikes
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, January 24th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – The calls that come into Umatilla County Emergency and Non-Emergency Dispatch show that the round of winter weather hit first responders hard and kept the operators jumping. Dispatch is the first line in responding to inclement weather in Umatilla County, with the exception of Milton-Freewater and Umatilla Tribal Police which operate their own dispatch services.
Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Sterrin Ward took a look at dispatch responses for Jan. 11-22. The weather during that period last year was milder, but the figures give a good example of the increased number of calls when compared to more normal winter weather.
She reported that this year there were 86 calls about motor vehicle crashes with 15 possible injuries. In 2023 that number was 36 crashes with 10 possible injuries.
“That is why law enforcement encourages people to stay off the roadways unless necessary,” she said. “The fewer vehicles on the roadway, the fewer chances of crashes, which can quickly drain emergency responder resources.”
Other calls for service to the dispatch center included 24 driving complaints, 40 calls for traffic hazards like disabled vehicles, and more than 60 calls regarding animals, with many related to dogs left out in the weather.
Umatilla County Emergency Dispatch fielded 66 public works calls during the recent storms, compared to 18 the year before. A total of 74 calls were received asking for welfare checks on people as opposed to 44 last year.
One hundred twenty six emergency 911 calls were transferred to the Oregon State Police and a few were sent to the Washington State Patrol for travelers reporting issues on state highways compared to 90 in 2023.
“Consider all the times the roadways in the last two weeks were closed for the public’s safety and that is a pretty drastic increase,” Ward said. “Our dispatchers are always hopping during severe weather and they have to get out there and travel to work amid the bad weather at all times of the day and night, as do our jail staff and our patrol deputies and officers.”
