Governor Perdue Honors 9-1-1 Professionals, Young Heroes

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today honored 9-1-1 professionals and five young 9-1-1 heroes from around the state today, proclaiming 9-1-1 Day in Georgia. The annual recognition honors the dedication and contributions of approximately 2,500 professionals who operate local and regional 9-1-1 centers throughout Georgia.

“In an emergency, 9-1-1 can mean the difference between life and death,” said Governor Perdue. “I am honored to recognize the state’s 9-1-1 professionals who save lives every day, and say 'thank you' for a job well done.”

The program also recognizes children from across the state that successfully used 9-1-1 during the past year to save a life in an emergency.

“It is not always easy to remain calm in an emergency, yet these five boys and girls demonstrated a tremendous amount of composure and maturity in the midst of a crisis,” said Governor Perdue.

This year's 9-1-1 Heroes are: 10-year old Maggie Davis of Union County; 10-year old Chuck Massey of Troup County; 7-year-old Holland Pugh of Gwinnett County; 8-year old Mario Smith of the City of Atlanta; and 12-year-old Australia Williams of Henry County.

“9-1-1 is critically important,” says Georgia Emergency Management Agency - Office of Homeland Security Director Charley English.   “We are grateful to the extraordinary people who work the phones every day with no margin for error. We also are proud to recognize these fine young people who used the system to save lives.”

Access to 9-1-1 in Georgia has been greatly improved in recent years. In early 2004, only 121 counties had enhanced 9-1-1 services that allowed dispatchers and calltakers to identify the location of a call. Today, 153 counties have enhanced 9-1-1 service or are in the process of implementing the service.

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