Number of emergency incidents threatens to overwhelm RiverCom 911 system

WENATCHEE — RiverCom 911 is under intense pressure as annual public safety incidents continue to rise in Chelan and Douglas counties. The 911 system and its staff are nearing an unsustainable strain.

RiverCom handles 911 calls and sends out emergency responders for 22 police, fire, and EMS agencies in the two-county area. The actual work dispatchers do, based on the number of incidents, has gone up more than 15% in the last five years, and it's not slowing down.

“Every incident requires focused attention—entering records, logging names, adding comments, and coordinating with first responders,” said Doug Jones, the Executive Director of RiverCom. “These incidents are what drive our workload, and they’re increasing every year.”

RiverCom's current workplace setup and staffing situation cannot keep up with the growing demand. Even if they could hire more dispatchers, they don’t have room for any additional workstations to put them in. They recently applied for a state grant to expand their facility, but it was denied, leaving them without a clear fix.

Aside from space, what RiverCom really needs is to modernize, according to the agency. RiverCom must upgrade to next-generation 911 systems, boost cybersecurity, and broaden their radio coverage in rural and mountainous areas where spotty signals can delay emergency help. Without these crucial upgrades, coordinating emergencies across both counties will be slower and riskier, especially during big incidents.

The RiverCom Administrative Board is looking at all funding options and will keep the public updated as they sort out the path forward.

For more information about RiverCom, visit www.rivercom911.org or call 509-662-4650.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media