| HAGERSTOWN, MD (April 22, 2025) – On the night of Saturday April 19, 2025, Washington County’s 911 Emergency Communications Center experienced a record-breaking influx of emergency calls due to a powerful storm that moved through the region. In just a few short hours, dispatchers fielded an extraordinary number of emergency calls, demonstrating professionalism, resilience, and commitment to public safety.
At 9:00 PM, the Center received 109 calls. By 10:00 PM, call volume surged to an astounding 995 calls in one hour. Due to the overwhelming number of residents calling 911 simultaneously, some calls unfortunately went unanswered. No matter how much preparation is in place for high-impact events, there are rare situations when call volume can exceed system capacity.
To help during these times, residents are reminded to use the non-emergency line at 240-313-4345 if the situation is not an immediate threat to life or property. It is critical to leave 911 lines open for true emergencies only. Additionally, if there are multiple people in one household witnessing the same emergency, only one person should place the 911 call. Multiple calls from the same incident can further congest the lines and delay response to the immediate emergency and other emergencies being reported.
Calls continued steadily throughout the night with 271 calls at 11:00 PM, 70 calls at midnight, 42 at 1:00 AM, and 31 at 2:00 AM—totaling 1,518 calls in 6 hours.
These figures do not include the high volume of radio communications or the numerous incidents dispatched during that time.
Staff from Emergency Communications, Emergency Management, and Emergency Services worked in unison to manage and clear calls efficiently, ensuring emergency needs were met across Washington County.
“This was a night like no other,” said Alan Matheny, Director of the Division of Emergency Management and Communications. “The volume of calls coming in all at once could have easily overwhelmed the system, but thanks to the exceptional training, teamwork, and dedication of our staff and supporting departments, we were able to keep operations running smoothly and continue serving our community when they needed us most.”
Washington County Government applauds the efforts of the 911 Emergency Communications Center and the collaborative response from all supporting divisions. Their swift action and seamless coordination were crucial in maintaining public safety throughout the storm. |
