911 Callers Put On Hold? Everyone Should Be Alarmed: Rep Lancia

CRANSTON, RI— Rep. Robert Lancia (R-Dist. 16, Cranston) has called for a study about Rhode Island's 911 system, after he received an anonymous call about problems at the state's emergency call center. His source, an employee at the call center, claims people by the thousands being put on hold after they call for help. The reason is lack of manpower. Too few operators are on the job. According to his information, sometimes only four operators are answering calls from midnight until morning. The minimum is supposed to be eight operators.

“This is a potential disaster in the making," Lancia said. "If a natural disaster or terrorist attack were to strike Rhode Island the 911 system would be overwhelmed."

His office also indicated the problem is due to budgeting.

"The 911 system is funded by a charge on every Rhode Island resident’s bill for cell and landline phone services," Lancia's office said. "However, this money does not go directly to the 911 budget. Instead, it is put into the Rhode Island general fund and then distributed at the discretion of the state meaning that the 911 system may be receiving a smaller amount of money than is necessary."

Lancia said he wants that changed. Instead of going into the general fund, 911 fees should go into a special 911 account.

“I want Rhode Islanders to sleep soundly knowing that if they have an emergency there is someone on the other end of the line ready to help," Lancia said. "These people play a vital role in our state and its time we start treating them as such.”

Gov. Gina Raimondo said the state is hiring more operators to start this week.