E-911 aims to help during disasters

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Rhode Island officials are implementing a new 911 technology, called E-911, to help emergency crews plan and respond to natural disasters. The new technology will allow officials to have multiple views of all aspects of both buildings and roads within their communities.

The Rhode Island Department of Public Safety Director, Colonel Brendan Doherty, presented the new program today at the state house. The software allows the user to access a digital image library containing pictures of buildings, street lights, fire hydrants and other landmarks from both high and low level angles.

It can also be used by 911 call centers to help describe the location of an incoming emergency call to first responders. Four of Rhode Island’s largest communities, Providence, Cranston, Warwick, and Newport, have already adopted the new technology.