Is 911 in Trouble?

In the United States, when someone calls 911 the call is routed to an operator at a public safety answering point, or PSAP. But news outlets across the country are finding that local PSAPs are struggling, and that 911 callers are waiting longer to get help. Today on the podcast, we speak to a researcher who just surveyed dozens of PSAPs to find out how well they are able to meet the call answering and processing times required by NFPA standards. The results were eye-opening. This episode first aired in June, 2023. Then, on a new Code Corner, with construction season about to ramp up, engineer Shawn Mahoney talks about the role of the fire prevention program manager on construction sites. LINKS: Read the 2023 NFPA Journal feature story, "Please Hold," about the challenges facing America's 911 dispatch system. Read the Fire Protection Research Foundation report on 911 dispatch call centers See the latest on NFPA 241, Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations Episode Image: Lauren Sauceda answers an emergency 911 call while working at her desk at the Harris County Emergency 9-1-1 Dispatch Center in Houston. Michael Paulsen/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images.

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Is 911 in Trouble? is an episode from NFPA Journal Podcast by NFPA.

This episode is 39:11 long.

This episode was published on May 12, 2026.

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