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Next week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Each year the week is celebrated annually during the second week of April, and we can’t think of timing more fitting in 2023. 

On March 26 and March 27, emergency dispatchers at the Troup County 911 office were directing first responders to the scene of tornado damage and significant flooding after 10 inches of rain fell.

Our emergency dispatchers have a heavy burden to carry. When something bad happens in our community, they are the ones on the other end of the call. 

If someone isn’t breathing, a terrible car accident occurs, or a tornado destroys a home, they are the ones on the other end of the phone.

Their job is to keep it together, direct help to the area and keep the caller calm. 

But all too often they aren’t included when first responders are thanked. 

Just on Sunday and Monday following the tornado, Troup County dispatchers responded to nearly 1800 calls, many of them related to storm damage or flooding. 

It’s often a thankless job, but we’re extremely thankful for the folks who are always there to answer our call, day or night, and to ensure us that help is on the way.