Regional 911 System

Overview

The Mid-America Regional Council serves as the coordinating agency for the Kansas City Regional 911 System, which handles approximately 1.5 million emergency calls each year. Representatives of local governments serving on committees and task forces help coordinate regional system activities and work to accomplish specific strategy plan goals. Forty-two public safety answering points (PSAPs) in eleven counties support the system. These counties include Atchison, Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, and Ray in Missouri.  

OUR MISSION

The mission of the regional public safety communications program is to maintain, enhance and coordinate the 911 system as the primary means of access for those in the region who need emergency public safety services and to enhance the ability of public safety personnel and emergency responders to effectively communicate through all phases of emergency incidents and planned events. 

911 call center operators working together

Our Vision

  • Provide citizens and public safety professionals with a high-quality, financially secure, and well-maintained system of 911.
  • Serve as a model of excellence, ensuring any person needing access to emergency services can immediately reach assistance to facilitate a quick response. 
  • Educate the public, elected officials and public safety professionals about the services provided and the needs to support it. 
Group talking at a 911 call center

Regional Cooperation

A 911 Interlocal Cooperation Agreement, signed by the ten counties in the region, formalized the cooperation among governments for the regional 911 emergency communications system. By signing the agreement, participating counties commit to:

  • Implementing a region-wide modernization of the 911 equipment used by public safety answering points.
  • Sharing the operational, administrative and maintenance costs of the regional 911 system on a per capita basis.
  • Establishing an oversight policy and coordinating committee for the ongoing management of the regional 911 system.

Standardization of equipment allows local communities to share a common support system, everything from training to spare parts. Cooperation allows communities to stay up to date on new technology and build a cohesive 911 system for the future.

MARC, with guidance from the Public Safety Communications Board engages in the following activities and projects:

  • Monthly review of the 911 system telephone bills and allocation to counties based on a per capita formula.
  • Audit of all 911 system telephone bills by all providers. 
  • Development and coordination of region-wide public education and promotion efforts.
  • Development and coordination of region-wide training opportunities for public safety communications personnel.
  • Coordinating activities of the 911 committees and task forces.
  • Reviewing 911 surcharge fund balances and tax rates.
  • Maintaining 911 selective routing database and repair escalation procedures
  • Provide comprehensive support service, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year for all regionally-owned components of the 911 system, including. but not limited to, selective routers, customer premise equipment and mircrowave links.

Text to 911

Call if you can...

Text if you can't

Did you know that the Text to 911 service is available in the nine-county Kansas City metro area?

Important Tips for Calling 911

Download the Important Tips for Calling 911 brochure to get answers to frequently asked questions about calling or texting 911.

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