Rehoboth and Dover 911 Centers Roll Out Life-Saving Multimedia and Translation Upgrades
Delaware Upgrades 911 Services with New Tools for Faster, Smarter, and More Inclusive Emergency Response
Emergencies don’t wait—and in a state as busy and diverse as Delaware, having the right tools at the right time can mean everything. That’s why both Rehoboth Beach and Dover 911 Centers have launched major upgrades designed to improve how dispatchers respond to calls, assess threats, and communicate across language barriers.
From real-time video sharing to text translations in over 90 languages, these updates are putting Delaware on the cutting edge of public safety.
📍 Rehoboth Beach 911 Center: New Tools for Locals and Visitors
Rehoboth Beach—one of Delaware’s most visited destinations—now has enhanced capabilities to make emergency response more efficient and inclusive:
📷 Video and Photo Sharing During 911 Calls
-
Callers can receive a secure link that allows them to share live videos, photos, or short clips with 911 dispatchers.
-
This helps responders see the situation—whether it’s a missing child at the beach, a medical emergency, or someone lost in an unfamiliar area.
🌐 Real-Time Text Translation
-
If someone texts 911 in a foreign language, dispatchers can now:
-
Read the message instantly translated into English
-
Send a reply that gets translated back into the caller’s native language
-
-
Supports 97 different languages, making emergency help more accessible to non-English speakers.
“The more information we can give responders, the better care they can provide,” said Nicholas Priddy, Rehoboth Beach Emergency Communications Manager. “This is another critical tool in our toolbox.”
Priddy noted that while traditional 911 protocols still apply, these tools offer valuable backup—especially in time-sensitive scenarios like water rescues, missing children, and unfamiliar locations.
📍 Dover 911 Center: First in Delaware to Launch Enhanced 911 System
Dover is leading the charge statewide by becoming the first 911 center in Delaware to fully activate the new Enhanced 911 system, revealed during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
🔍 What’s New in Dover?
-
Multimedia link allows dispatchers to watch emergencies unfold in real time via photos and video streams.
-
Designed to help with assaults, riots, suspicious activity, and barricaded subjects where eyes on the scene make all the difference.
-
Citizens stay in control and can end the livestream at any time.
“In this profession, seconds matter,” said Dover Emergency Communications Manager Matthew Carey. “This technology gives dispatchers the most accurate real-time information to allow them to view what’s happening.”
💬 Text Translation and Expanded Communication
-
Just like in Rehoboth, non-English speakers can text 911 in their native language and receive translated responses, ensuring that language is never a barrier to safety.
🔧 What Powers These Upgrades?
These statewide changes are part of Delaware’s NextGen 911 project, which aims to equip all Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) with cutting-edge communication tools by 2026.
-
Funded through the E911 Emergency Reporting System Fund, supported by a phone surcharge of up to 60 cents/month.
-
Technology is provided by Intrado, a national provider of emergency communications solutions.
-
The upgrades are active now in Dover and Rehoboth, with more locations—like Newark, Georgetown, Wilmington, and State Police-run centers—coming soon.
🧠 A Statewide Commitment to Safer Communities
Delaware officials are investing in more than just tech—they’re investing in people.
“All these technologies are extraordinary… But it is meaningless if we don’t have the No. 1 technology in public safety in our state, and that is the people,” said Governor Matt Meyer.
With trained dispatchers at the helm and new tools in hand, Delaware is redefining what modern emergency response can look like—faster, smarter, and more inclusive for all.
To learn more about Delaware’s statewide 911 visit here.
