Rising temperatures could jeopardize emergency 911 calls

At the New Castle County Police Headquarters, officials are preparing for the worst. This summer it could take just three days of temperatures above 95 degrees to knock out the emergency call system entirely.

 

Delawareonline.com reports that a $500,000 capital contingency to install an above-ground cooling tower to supplement the underground cooling system should be installed by Oct. 1.

Until then, mobile units are being used to cool the call-center building.

“If somebody calls 911 and the heat disables the system during an emergency call, it’s all over,” said Michael Svaby, a county senior manager. “That’s a mistake we can’t take back.”