FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Orleans Parish Communication District
Announces Launch of TXT29-1-1 (Text-to-911) and Smart911 Technology
NEW ORLEANS (March 26, 2020) – The Orleans Parish Communication District (OPCD), in conjunction with the City of New Orleans, announces the launch of TXT29-1-1 services by Intrado Life and Safety, and Rave Mobile Safety Smart911 technology in Orleans Parish.
OPCD’s adoption of TXT29-1-1 and Smart911 is designed to provide residents and visitors of New Orleans with more opportunities to connect and share information with first responders during emergency events, especially as efforts from city officials to respond to the spread of the coronavirus continue.
“We need to modernize our emergency response capabilities with every available option, and so I’d like to thank Intrado and Rave Mobile Safety for their efforts to support the Orleans Parish Communication District’s commitment to serve our residents in the most timely manner possible,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “Text-to-911 services and the Smart911 Mobile Application will help save time and save lives.”
These services start immediately in Orleans Parish, and an informational video describing their uses can be viewed here and a transcript of the video can be viewed here.
“During this time of uncertainty, we want to remind the people of New Orleans that we are here for them, and are constantly seeking out new ways to serve their needs,” stated OPCD Executive Director, Tyrell Morris. “The ability to provide TXT29-1-1 services to the people of New Orleans has long been a goal of OPCD, and we are incredibly proud to be able to launch that technology when it seems most needed by our citizens.”
“We are also excited to be working with Rave to launch Smart911 because we know it will give our residents an opportunity to provide much needed information to first responders,” continued Morris. The ability for an individual to create a profile that allows us to know if they are self-quarantined, or if they suffer from a heart condition, or are a member of our hearing- or speech-impaired community and may need specialized assistance, will be invaluable during emergency events. I encourage everyone in New Orleans to take advantage of this technology as quickly as possible.”
TXT29-1-1 by Intrado
OPCD has partnered with Intrado, to provide TXT29-1-1 services to the citizens of Orleans Parish, supplying another avenue to report emergencies for people in need. While it is still preferred that citizens and visitors with life-threatening emergencies call 9-1-1 if they are able, they can now text 9-1-1 if they are speech- or hearing-impaired, or if speaking could cause them harm.
To use this Text-to-911 service, citizens and visitors can simply text their location and the nature of their emergency to the number “911,” at which time an OPCD emergency communication specialists will immediately begin communicating with them through text message.
All cellphone carriers within Orleans Parish are included in the Text-to-911 program, including Sprint, AT&T, FirstNet, T-Mobile and Verizon. People who wish to utilize Text-to-911 are required to have a messaging plan through their carrier.
“Intrado is proud to partner with OPCD to bring this leading edge 9-1-1 technology to the citizens of Orleans Parish,” stated Jeff Robertson, President of Intrado Life & Safety. “We applaud Orleans Parish and all the individuals that are integral to the mission of protecting the citizens within their jurisdiction. We are eager to continue our shared commitment to identify innovative 9-1-1 technology solutions that help call takers and first responders save lives.”
Smart911 by Rave Mobile Safety
In an effort to help citizens share critical information with first responders during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond, OPCD has partnered with Rave Mobile Safety to launchSmart911 in New Orleans. Individuals are encouraged to fill out a Smart911 Safety Profile for themselves and their households, providing first responders with the key information they need about an individual when offering emergency assistance.
With this technology, a citizen’s call to 9-1-1 will automatically display their Smart911 Safety Profile to OPCD emergency communications specialists, allowing Orleans Parish public safety agencies to send emergency response teams to the right location with enhanced medical data. By signing up for Smart911—and helping those who may be most vulnerable or unable to create a Safety Profile on their own do the same—individuals can help first responders get the critical information they need about every person who may need assistance, not only during this outbreak, but during any emergency.
Through a Smart911 Public Safety Profile, citizens also have the capability to self-identify if they are under quarantine, and whether it is self-imposed or directed by a health professional. Quarantined individuals can then receive check-in messages on their health status, as well as reliable information about the coronavirus in New Orleans.
New Orleans residents are encouraged create a Smart911 Safety Profile for their household today at www.smart911.com or on the Smart911 App, which can also be downloaded to mobile devices at the Apple Store or Google Play.
”Rave is proud to partner with the City of New Orleans on its rollout of Smart911 at a time when connecting first responders and the public is critical,” said Noah Reiter, Rave SVP Customer Success. “This is just the latest example of the city’s commitment to public safety and community health. We join Mayor Cantrell and OPCD Executive Director Morris in encouraging all New Orleanians to create a Smart911 profile today to provide first responders the information needed to enable the most informed response possible.”
About Intrado (www.intrado.com)
Intrado Corporation is an innovative, cloud-based, global technology partner to clients around the world. Our solutions connect people and organizations at the right time and in the right ways, making those mission-critical connections more relevant, engaging and actionable – turning Information to Insight. Intrado has sales and/or operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America and South America. Intrado is controlled by affiliates of certain funds managed by Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO). For more information, please call 1-800-841-9000 or visit www.intrado.com.
About Rave Mobile Safety (www.ravemobilesafety.com)
Rave Mobile Safety provides innovative emergency and public safety technology to help save lives. The Rave platform integrates data and communication tools to help those in charge of keeping others safe prepare better, respond faster and communicate more effectively in emergency situations. Thousands of agencies and institutions across law enforcement, 9-1-1, state and local emergency management agencies, corporations, healthcare organizations, K–12 districts, colleges and universities depend on Rave’s award-winning software solutions. Founded in 2004, Rave is headquartered in Framingham, Mass. and backed by leading growth equity firm TCV. For more information, visit www.ravemobilesafety.com or follow the company on Twitter.
About the Orleans Parish Communication District (www.OPCDLA.gov)
Formed in 1982, the Orleans Parish Communication District is the PSAP for all emergency communications via 9-1-1, and non-emergency communications via 3-1-1, within Orleans Parish. The agency employs over 150 individuals and provides emergency medical dispatch, emergency fire dispatch, and emergency police dispatch for the millions of annual visitors and residents of the City of New Orleans. OPCD is a member of the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).
The Mission of OPCD is to get the Right People to the Right Place at the Right Time, Better than Anybody Else in the World.