Delaware County Emergency Communication Center

During the conversation with Lt. Peters, the OIC advised that radio and paging capabilities would probably be lost. Lt. Peters requested information regarding alternative communication plans. Given the limited understanding at the time of how the radio system would respond to the loss of the Sampson site, the OIC advised that agencies might need to utilize cellular phones.

The OIC then contacted the Muncie Fire Department Battalion Chief and advised that the tower was underwater and that paging and radio capabilities would be lost. While that conversation was taking place, Bruce Dunn called and confirmed that the site was underwater and that they would be losing the site and its associated capabilities.

Bruce subsequently contacted a dispatcher and advised that the site was definitely underwater and that they would be losing everything. The dispatcher advised that supervisors were being notified. Bruce requested that someone be available to assist him because he intended to enter the site and was concerned about electrical hazards. The DCSO supervisor was notified and advised that he would begin responding to the site. He also suggested that Fire or EMS personnel respond.

Bruce later contacted the 911 OIC and advised that all VHF paging had been lost. At that point, he did not specifically state that the 800 MHz radio system had been lost.

Bruce subsequently advised a dispatcher that the entire site was down. All VHF paging had been lost, and the repeaters at the Sampson site were no longer operational.

The MPD dispatcher then contacted Lt. Peters and advised that the page repeaters were down and that other capabilities were beginning to be affected. The dispatcher advised that they did not know how much longer radio traffic would remain available.

Lt. Peters asked about the plan moving forward. The dispatcher advised that there was not yet a clear plan. Lt. Peters advised that he would notify the incoming supervisor and indicated that he had the entire shift at City Hall. Because officers were experiencing communication difficulties, he planned to send three cars to each call. He also requested that if a Priority 1 incident was received, he be contacted directly.

The MPD dispatcher later spoke with the incoming MPD supervisor and advised that Bruce Dunn was requesting that AEP shut off power to the Sampson Tower site. The supervisor was advised that communications would be going down.

A dispatcher subsequently contacted Bruce and asked what capabilities would remain if AEP shut off power to the site. Bruce advised that the site was already dead and that all VHF paging was down. He further advised that the 800 MHz system would remain operational through other tower sites.