$2 Billion Overhaul of 911 System Complete

A fire truck leaves the Number 224 NYFD station in Brooklyn Heights for a reported fire in a Red Hook area school August 28, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the completion of a major overhaul of New York City’s 911-call system that began in 2004. For the first time in the city’s history, police, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS) call takers work side by side and use the same technology.

An onscreen map shows the caller’s location, emergency response vehicles now have automated vehicle locator technology, and call center and backup system infrastructure has been upgraded for greater dependability. The new system can handle 50,000 calls per hour—nine times more than the peak call volume on Sept. 11, 2001.

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