CCEMS Comm Center showed once again why they are the best of the best when Mother Nature delivered a lightning strike to the building, and not a single dispatch was missed or interrupted.
A lightning strike delivered a fatal blow to the Comm Center’s transfer switch at around 3 pm on September 5, 2020. CCEMS backup generators immediately kicked into gear. The damage assessment concluded that a complete power outage would be needed to replace the transfer switch. Comm Center employees activated our Emergency Operations Plan and informed our Chiefs (client departments). The plan called for moving operations to the Cy-Fair Fire Department backup center while repairs could be made on Saturday. The Center operated on a 100% generator power with no disruption of service. This morning at 10 am, electricians shut down the power to our CCEMS Comm Center and replaced the transfer switch. A team of 5 CCEMS dispatchers deployed for mobile operations, using the mobile 911 VESTA systems, were able to answer calls from the Cy-Fair backup center with no interruption of service. The CCEMS Mobile Communications Team answered and dispatched 45 calls for service. The repairs were completed in less than two hours, and operations transitioned back to the CCEMS Comm Center. Our Chiefs were informed everything was complete at 12: 19 pm.
We cannot thank our neighbors (Cy-Fair) enough for their prompt response and support for our mobile operations. A successful crisis response includes an actionable plan, strong partner relationships, and an amazing team. This is why our award-winning Comm Center team is the best! Thank you!
CyFair Fire Department
Angela Burrer – Communications Chief
Eric Burrer
CCEMS Mobile Team Members:
Lori Broadrick – Operations Manager
Melissa Dyches – Supervisor
Chas Richmond – Supervisor
Nicky Spitzenberger – Supervisor
Nicole Hoover – CTO
Victoria Castillo – CTO
CCEMS Comm Center Team
Niky Smith – Communications Director
Ellis Earls – Supervisor
Stephen Reed – CCEMS Maintenance
CCEMS Mobile Team Members
CCEMS IT
About Cypress Creek EMS
Cypress Creek EMS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with 46 years of excellence in emergency services formerly provided within 177 square miles of northern Harris County and to approximately 560,000 residents. CCEMS now operates in eight counties across Texas with Creek GroundCare services and around the world with Creek AirCare. CCEMS is known nationally as an innovator in prehospital medicine. For example, CCEMS was the first civilian EMS in the country to transfuse whole blood into a trauma patient in the field. CCEMS is also part of a Military EMS Fellowship that is bringing battlefield medicine to civilian EMS to reduce deaths due to trauma.
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Contact: Miranda Sevcik 713-515-9729
