Remeber all, technology is still improving, I still remember when 911 where I live now was only for SO. For Fire you had to call the local nuimber, and for ambulance, another number in another town. Yes we still have a long way to go, we just got E-911 here where I live, and its still faster for ambulance to call the service in another county. Rural areas can have a field day trying to get all the services needed, not mentioning coordination. For example: The VFD I am on has a total of 10 members, one fire truck, and one tanker. We just had to reprogram our radios to delete the old EOC/VFD dispatch freq, as it expired and since the county just got a new "-911" radio chan, we are getting everyone reset for it, although the SO uses it for ops just as much as thier primary chan. If a fire, or medical emergency happens during a weekday, only two of us are really able to respond at all, the chief, and right now, me as I am currently unemployed and seeking a job, not the easiest to do in MS right now. As to ambulance services, we have one AMR unit, and two Emergistat Units for the whole county. From rumors, AMR is going to let Emergistat have the full contract for the county, and is making a deal to give them thier radio system, which seems to be common practice in this state. SO response time is average of 10 minutes minimum. Our VFD is 20 minimum to get at least on man in a truck, or to get enroute for first responder call. EMS response for AMR is 25 minutes, and Emergistat is 20 or more. If the ambulance call is given to King's Daughters Medical Center in a nieghboring county, they can get First Responders to our rea in 15 to 20, and an ambulance in 20 tops. We are still working on getting things fixed, and to get more members on our VFD, but being extremely rural, its not easy.
