911 ERROR WAS HUMAN, NOT COMPUTER

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 15, 1993                   TAG: 9303150062
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Ray Reed
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
911 ERROR WAS HUMAN, NOT COMPUTER
Q: How many more computer errors might there be in the 911 system? Is there any way to find out how many there are and correct this? N.N., Roanoke
A: The recent dispatching of fire trucks to the wrong address - in Roanoke - for a motel fire in Roanoke County just outside Salem is regarded as human error, said Don Reid of C&P Telephone Co.
The electronic equipment and computer software worked as advertised.
Unfortunately, someone had entered the address into the computer without noticing it was wrong, and others did not immediately catch the error when the computer flashed the same address on the screen in response to the fire call.
That call confronted operators with a language barrier and a panicked caller, so handling it was no piece of cake. The dispatchers stayed with the situation and figured out where to send the fire trucks.
C&P is reviewing its 911 data and the processes it follows, Reid said. So are the different municipalities that make up the system. Their goal is to find and fix any problems this situation revealed.
Reid pointed out 911 has processed more than 1 million calls and to his knowledge this was the first to create any problem.
\ Attention steam fans
Q: Family and friends from out of state are interested in excursion trains No. 611 and 1218, and we'd like to know the dates if any trips are planned. L.S., Pearisburg
A: Here are trips by the restored steam locomotives that are within easy driving distance of Roanoke.
There's a round trip April 24 from Spencer, N.C., to Lynchburg. For information, write the North Carolina Transportation History Corp., P.O. Box 44, Spencer, N.C., 28159.
On May 1 there's a round trip from Kingsport, Tenn., to Appalachia, and on May 2 is a round trip from Kingsport to Richlands. Write the Watauga Valley chapter, NRHS, P.O. Box 432, Johnson City, Tenn. 37605-0432.
On May 22 there's a round trip on the Winston-Salem through Roanoke to Lynchburg circle. Contact the Winston-Salem chapter, NRHS, P.O. Box 11321, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27116-1114.
That's all until Oct. 2, when there's a round trip from Bristol to Roanoke, sponsored by the Watauga Valley chapter.
On Oct. 9, there are two trips from Roanoke to Walton in Montgomery County and back, and a round trip Oct. 10 from Roanoke to Bluefield, all sponsored by the Roanoke chapter, NRHS, P.O. Box 13222, Roanoke 24032.
There will be round trips from Richmond to Lynchburg, Oct. 16 and 17. Contact the Old Dominion chapter, NRHS, P.O. Box 8583, Richmond 23226.
Oct. 23, there is a round trip from Greensboro to Roanoke. Contact the Greensboro chapter, NRHS, P.O. Box 16745, Greensboro N.C. 27416.
\ Got a question about something that might affect other people too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB