Hamilton County 911 second shift telecommunicators received honors at the annual awards banquet during the TENA conference in Murfreesboro on Sept. 26. The award recognized their exceptional response to the Woodmore bus crash last Nov. 21, 2016.
When telecommunicators at the center began receiving 911 calls that a school bus loaded with children had crashed and turned over, they immediately recognized the severity of the situation and the need for an urgent response.
Among the actions taken, the team worked together to process multiple 911 calls, managed the mass casualty response by assigning tactical channels and directing over 20 ambulances to the scene as well as coordinating a massive police and fire response. They further assisted with the deployment of tactical dispatchers to the scene to work directly with the incident commander and facilitate communications.
Officials said, "The teamwork and professionalism exhibited during this tragic incident was outstanding."