Kansas City region recognizes 40th anniversary of first 911 call

Feb 08, 2023
| Posted in
KC region celebrates 40 years of 911 service

911 became the lifeline for more than a million residents in 1983 when MARC and the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company launched the regional emergency telephone system. The regional 911 system united more than 100 area police, fire and emergency medical numbers under the easy-to-remember, three-digit number in 65 cities in six counties.

The original 911 emergency system handled 800,000 calls a year. Today, the system handles approximately 1.5 million emergency calls each year. 

MARC manages the ongoing operation, maintenance and state-of-the-art enhancement of the system, and the coordination of the region’s interoperable communications system. Representatives of local governments serving on committees and task forces help coordinate regional system activities and work to accomplish specific strategy plan goals.

Forty-two public safety answering points in 11 counties support the regional 911 system. These counties include Atchison, Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, and Ray in Missouri.

On April 14, 2023, 911 dispatchers and telecommunicators will be honored at the 26th Annual Telecommunicators Appreciation Celebration and Outstanding Performance Awards in Kansas City, Missouri. National Public Safety Telecommunications Week takes place April 9-15, 2023.

 

911 anniversary photo collage