Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
Office of the Texas Governor Greg Abbott • April 13, 2020
From the Office of the Governor
Public Safety telcommunicators are rarely seen during emergencies, but these men and women who serve our communities across the state help to save lives every day. These "unseen first responders," which included 9-1-1 operators, dispatchers and other communications specialists, answer calls for help and use their invaluable communication and decision-making skills to address the needs of the caller as the emergency dictates. They think and respond rapidly and respond rapidly and often creatively to reassure frightened, upset and confused callers while at the same time maintaining the calm, professional, and disciplined demeanor that handling a 9-1-1 call requires.
By providing critical assistance in times of great need, public safety telecommunicators have made countless contributions to public safety in our state. Texas has almost 600 public safety answering points where over 4,000 telecommunicators answer 9-1-1 calls, with a large percentage of those calls now coming from wireless phones. The Commission of State Emergency Communications works with telecommunicators and local and state governments to ensure Texans have reliable access to emergency telecommunication services. Every year, the commission designates a week in April for an awareness campaign to highlight the many contributions and achievements of public safety telecommunicators.
At this time, I encourage all Texans to learn more about the vital role these communications professionals play in our everyday lives and to extend their appreciation and gratitude to public safety telecommunicators. Their strength and expertise in times of crisis and emergency ensure Texans receive the help they need when they need it most.
Therefore, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, do hereby proclaim April 12-18, 2020, to be Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Texas, and urge the appropriate recognition whereof.
ETCOG is hosting NIMS ICS 300 and ICS 400 training in August at our Kilgore office. These courses are now required under Texas House Bill 33. Please register as soon as possible. The class must have at least 26 participants, or it may be canceled. Please also forward this opportunity to anyone who may need or be interested in attending. Training Details Course: MGT904 / ICS-300 Dates: August 24–26, 2026 Start Time: August 24 at 8:00 a.m. CST Location: ETCOG 3800 Stone Road Kilgore, Texas 75662 Registration Link: https://my.teex.org/TeexPortal/Default.aspx?MO=mCourseCatalog&D=FP&C=MGT904&S=941 Course: MGT905 / ICS-400 Dates: August 26–27, 2026 Start Time: August 26 at 1:00 p.m. CST Location: ETCOG 3800 Stone Road Kilgore, Texas 75662 Registration Link: https://my.teex.org/TeexPortal/Default.aspx?MO=mCourseCatalog&D=FP&C=MGT905&S=732 Cost All online classes, including the ICS 300/400 classes hosted at ETCOG, are free. Prerequisites Please read this section carefully before registering. The following four prerequisite courses are required: ICS 100 ICS 200 ICS 700 ICS 800 FEMA online training link for prerequisites: Emergency Management Institute - National Incident Management System (NIMS) https://training.fema.gov/nims/ Please bring copies of your prerequisite certificates with you to class, if possible. A screenshot of your certificates is also acceptable. What to Bring Please bring the following items to training: Copies or screenshots of your ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 700, and ICS 800 certificates A tablet or laptop The participant manual downloaded to your device The participant manual will be available after you complete registration. Registration Assistance If you have trouble registering, please send a screenshot of the issue so we can help troubleshoot. Thank you, and please register as soon as possible to help ensure the class meets the minimum attendance requirement.
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, observed April 12–18, 2026 , honors the dedication, service, and sacrifice of the public safety telecommunicators who answer the call when emergencies happen. Held each year during the second week of April, the observance recognizes the professionals who serve as the critical first point of contact in emergency situations. At ETCOG, we are proud to recognize the telecommunicators who serve communities across our region. Their work requires professionalism, compassion, quick thinking, and a steadfast commitment to public safety. In moments of crisis, they provide calm, skilled support and help connect people to the emergency services they need. In 2025 , telecommunicators in ETCOG’s service area answered more than 174,000 9-1-1 calls and more than 20,000 9-1-1 texts . Behind each of those numbers is a person in need of help and a trained telecommunicator ready to respond. ETCOG supports the region’s dispatch offices through training, equipment upgrades, and management of the regional 9-1-1 system. These efforts help ensure telecommunicators have the tools, technology, and resources needed to serve the public effectively and efficiently. During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, we extend our sincere appreciation to the men and women who help keep our communities safe every day. Their work is essential, and their service makes a meaningful difference throughout East Texas.
