Five years after a major DC 911 misfire, America’s emergency dispatch systems still falter

In June 2020, during a 911 call for her mother Sheila, 13-year-old Maria Shepperd provided the correct address, but medics were dispatched to a nearby incorrect location, leading to a 20-minute delay in response. This incident highlights significant issues within DC’s 911 system, reflecting broader nationwide problems of understaffing, outdated technology, and lack of federal training mandates for dispatchers.

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