The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Shift Supervisor Michael Prater and Dispatchers Blake Kruse, Nichole O’Harver, Kim Hauck, Brian Smith, Matt Amos, Dylan DeClue, Tanya Moder, Allison Newton, Bailey Epple and Rebecca Presnell of Jefferson County 9-1-1 as Missouri Teammates in Action!
At approximately midnight on August 4, 2022, heavy rain started in northeastern Jefferson County. The first call was an occupied car stranded in the water. Dispatchers then began taking numerous calls of water in basements, water impending on residences, water over roadways and occupied cars stranded in water in the Springdale – Highway 141 area.
9-1-1 Dispatchers knew there was a lot of rain coming. They knew what had recently happened just north of Jefferson County had the potential to happen in their own backyard. When it did, the rain came fast and furious. The number of calls were overwhelming for the dispatchers on duty, so a page was sent out for additional manpower to respond. Dispatchers Tanya Moder, Rebecca Presnell and Kim Hauck answered that page and promptly reported to work in the middle of the night. During a three-and-a-half-hour period, the dispatchers answered 91 9-1-1 calls and 97 calls on non-emergency lines. The Jefferson County 9-1-1 team, led by Supervisor Mike Prater, did an outstanding job taking care of the citizens and the agencies we work with. Missouri APCO is proud of their hard work and is pleased to recognize them as Missouri Teammates in Action!