Celebrating 911 call operators in ENC during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - This week, the nation is celebrating the dedicated people who are on the call in 911 communication centers across the United States.

Even though you don’t know their names and you don’t see their faces, they’re usually the first voice you hear when you have an emergency.

Victoria Nortwick is the 911 Director for the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, and she says it can be a lot to handle.

“Most of these calls that we answer are not on a good day. We’re answering people’s worst calls, their worst moments, some of their worst moments. So, it can get pretty heavy in there,” said Nortwick.

We asked Pitt County 911 Director Jimmy Hodges what qualities they look for in a new employee.

He says active listening and staying calm under pressure are key.

Hodges also says the schedule can be brutal.

“So, most of us work 12 hour shifts. Sometimes it’s rotating shifts - days, nights, holidays, weekends, birthdays, anniversaries. They come in, then they’re usually assigned a duty - call taker, dispatch, and throughout the day they may rotate the responsibilities talking on the radio, talking on the phone,” said Hodges.

As you thank the first responders in your community, don’t forget the public safety telecommunicators that helped get them to the scene.