Delaware County Emergency Communication Center

The Sampson Tower failure was a significant infrastructure failure resulting from the catastrophic flooding event of August 13, 2026. However, it is important to clarify that the countywide 800 MHz radio system never completely went down. The system continued to operate by utilizing repeaters at other tower sites, as it was designed to do.

The primary impacts were the loss of the Sampson site, the loss of VHF paging and toning, and reduced radio coverage for certain portable and mobile radios depending on their location.

VHF capability is expected to be temporarily restored from the Delta Tower once the ordered equipment arrives. This will provide an interim solution while the Sampson site is restored. The intent is to retain the Delta VHF capability as a permanent backup after Sampson is returned to service.

The incident also identified a need for improved communication and education regarding how the county's radio system operates so that dispatchers, supervisors, and public safety personnel have a common understanding of what occurs when an individual tower site fails.

Looking forward, the restoration of the Sampson site, construction of an elevated building, retention of VHF capability at Delta, and evaluation of additional radio infrastructure will improve system resiliency. Options such as increasing the height of the Delta Tower and installing equipment comparable to the Sampson site should also be evaluated as part of the county's long-term strategy for achieving greater radio system redundancy. However, complete redundancy would require significant additional infrastructure and investment.

Finally, the county should continue to evaluate the long-term need for a fully redundant 911 dispatch center. Such a facility would provide protection against a catastrophic event affecting the current 911 center and would ensure that the county retains the ability to receive 911 calls and dispatch emergency services even if the primary facility becomes unavailable.