Portland 9-1-1 Calls Peak During Summer Months

Officials say you should get your emergency safety kit ready, and a corded phone with landline phone Service is key.

Salem-News.com

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - National Emergency Preparedness Week starts next week -- and there is no better time for it. According to the National Emergency Number Association, Portland 9-1-1- calls peak during the summer months.

To help with safety preparedness during the summer season, Qwest and NENA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing emergency communications, continue the "Connect for Safety" campaign to raise awareness about how landline service and corded phones help ensure more reliable access to 9-1-1 in an emergency.

In partnership with NENA and to commemorate National Emergency Preparedness Week, Qwest Communications will provide 500 free corded landline phones on Saturday, June 23rd and Sunday, June 24th to area residents on a first-come first-serve basis.

The "Connect for Safety" event will be held at the Qwest Solutions Centers in the Portland area located at Pioneer Place, Westfield Shopping Town (Vancouver), Clackamas Town Center and Lloyd Center from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Saturday and from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.

Connected to Help

When a call is made from a landline phone in an enhanced 9-1-1 service area, the dispatch center receives the address automatically -- a benefit for emergency responders that saves time and could potentially help them save lives.

A system to convey location information for cell phone calls to emergency responders is not yet fully deployed in every community -- making landlines and corded phones a must-have for all households.

Landlines may be reliable during power outages, which are more frequent in summer because of blackouts and electrical storms. Cordless, cable and Internet phones can fail during outages because they rely on the main electrical supply, but a traditional home phone with a cord uses an entirely different electrical system.

"Other phone technologies offer great features and mobility benefits, but a landline is more reliable and effective for accessing emergency-response services," says Robert Martin, executive director for NENA.

"To be ready for emergencies, all homes should have at least one landline connected to a corded phone."

Summer Emergency Preparedness As families get ready for summer, Qwest and NENA recommend that all households get emergency-ready by stocking up with the following items:

• Flashlights with working batteries in easy-to-find locations
• Battery-powered radio
• First aid kit
• Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Fire extinguisher
• Corded phone with landline phone service
• List of emergency numbers near the corded, landline phone

"As families prepare for home emergencies, the need for a corded phone and landline is often overlooked," says Judy Peppler, state president for Qwest in Oregon.

"Through this educational campaign and partnership with NENA to develop and enable next-generation emergency communications systems, Qwest wants to help ensure that local residents have reliable home access to potentially life-saving 9-1-1 service."

For more helpful tips on calling 9-1-1 and about the safety benefits of traditional phone service, visit connectforsafety.com.