Current 911 systems enable the public to share voice, caller ID, and limited location information. But even with that data, emergency officials say there are limitations. The goal of the new system is to improve speed and accuracy of emergency response.
Amy Hess heads up the Kentucky Department of Homeland Security.
"Next Generation 911, or NG 911 for short, replaces the aging analog systems with a secure, highly reliable digital infrastructure," she explains. "It transforms emergency access by allowing text, voice, photo, and video calls from any compatible device. This gives dispatchers and first responders far greater situational awareness of what they're facing before they arrive on scene."
According to 911.gov, Next Gen 9-1-1 will also help public safety officials "manage call overload, natural disasters, and transfer of 911 calls based on caller location data."
Kentucky has so far implemented Next Gen 911 at 19 call centers covering 22 counties and half a million Kentuckians since December of last year. LaRue and Woodford County will see upgrades come online this week.
Full implementation is expected across all Kentucky counties by the end of 2027.