SHORE PERSPECTIVES: In the silence before sirens, 911 dispatchers are the voice of calm

By Kelley Gaskill

In every emergency, before sirens wail or help arrives, a calm voice answers the call. 911 dispatchers are the unseen lifeline trained to assess the situation, offer reassurance and direct aid with precision. They are the first responders we rarely see.

If you’ve ever listened to the scanner on any given day, you no doubt have heard the mastery of their skill and training. Much like a conductor leading a symphony, 911 dispatchers gather information from a caller to relay to first responders before their arrival and remain in communication with those responding from the moment they get toned out until they return back to station.

Whether guiding CPR over the phone or coordinating multi-agency responses, dispatchers maintain composure under pressure. Their empathy and expertise bring clarity to crisis, comfort to fear and action to urgency. Behind every rescue, there’s the voice of a 911 dispatcher… steady, skilled, and deeply human.

This week Kelley visited with voices we often hear on the scanner, Supervisor Caroline Hodgson and Dispatcher Leah Hall from the Eastern Shore of Virginia 911 Center, as they shared a behind the scenes peek into a world we rarely think about until we are in need of emergency services.

When a 911 dispatcher —so often the calm voice guiding others through crisis— finds themselves in need, the roles reverse and the community answers the call. The ESVA 9-1-1 Center has begun a GoFundMe for Niasia, their headset hero battling breast cancer while pregnant. They are also partnering in a community baby shower for her. Gifts and gift cards may be dropped off to the ESVA 9-1-1 Center at 23201 Front St. Accomac, VA 23301 on Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays from now until November 13th. For more information, visit Eastern Shore Of Virginia 911 Center page on Facebook: