Washington Parish Communications Uses JPS Equipment to Support Operations During Hurricane Barry

Washington Parish Communications District is a Political Subdivision of the State of Louisiana, located in Franklinton, Louisiana.  The communications center is a 5,200 square feet facility capable of withstanding wind up to 130 MPH in a category 3 hurricane.  This modern facility is a multi-function facility with:

• Emergency Dispatch
• Incident Command
• Mapping and Addressing

The stout design and capability of this robust modern structure includes:

• Facility Generators – 375 KW
• Facility Fire Protection
• 750 GPM Diesel Pump
• Waterless Fire Suppression System
• A communications tower with design of a 400 Foot Main Tower with 35 Antennas
  • • 1 – Fire Repeater
    • 1 – OEP Repeater
    • 4 – HAM Repeaters
    • 2 – State Repeaters
    • 1 – WPSO Repeater
    • 6 – State Network
    • 3 – Microwave Network
    • 1 – Citizens Band
    • 1 – Family Radio System
  • 2 – HAM Long Distance
  • 7 – Public Safety
  • 1 – TV Receive
  • 1 – Cell Phone Receive

Above – Washington Parish Tower Site

Above – ACU-2000 WAIS Enterprise Dispatch Cabinet

Above – Emergency Dispatch hosts three Dispatcher Positions

Above – The Incident Command Operations & Logistics Room hosts 20 operator positions

Above – The JPS WAIS Enterprise Dispatch System was in operation at the Washington Parish Emergency Operations Center during its three-day activation for Hurricane Barry

Above – The WAIS Dispatch interface at the Center’s Communications Leader (COML) position is the primary operator’s position.  (The WAIS Screen is blurred out to protect Washington Parish site security.

The WAIS Dispatch interface at the Center’s Communications Leader (COML) position is the primary operator’s position.  The COML can choose amongst 38 different HF, VHF, and UHF radios operating between 3 and 700 MHz in a four-county region.  The center also has connectivity to other Louisiana WAIS systems in Region 9 and in the state.  While we are highlighting the three day operation of the WAIS system during the Hurricane Barry event, the WAIS Dispatch System stands ready for operational use 24/7 – 365 and is also utilized for other emergency and routine communications needs.

Washington Parish served as the beta testing facility for the initial development of the JPS WAIS Enterprise Dispatch system and now serves as a major communications asset for Region 9 and the State of Louisiana.  Our thanks to James M Coleman,
Chairman, Washington Parish Communications District for his contributions for this article and his commitment for emergency communications readiness.

To learn more about the JPS WAIS technology please visit the WAIS product page:
https://jpsinterop.wpengine.com/products/wide-area-interoperability-solution/