Grays Harbor - 911 Communications

There will be more information in the coming days about the 4th of July! Let’s work together to make it a safe one.

🇺🇸 Fourth of July in Ocean Shores is Coming Soon 🇺🇸

The Ocean Shores Police Department and Ocean Shores Fire Department are preparing for another safe and memorable Independence Day celebration.

Over the coming days, we'll be sharing important information about:

🎆 Fireworks
🚒 Fire Safety
🚓 Traffic & Beach Safety
🚤 Boating Safety
🏖 Family Viewing Areas
📞 Reporting Concerns

Stay tuned and help us make this Independence Day safe, fun, and enjoyable for everyone.

If you’re on the water and need help, the location is the most important information you can give.

Unlike a street address, dispatchers rely on what you can tell us.

Be ready to share:

Your GPS coordinates if available
Nearby landmarks (buoys, shoreline features, docks, bridges)
The direction you were traveling
The last known location if someone is overboard

If someone is:

Injured
Overboard
In immediate danger

Call 911 or the USCG right away

Stay on the line and answer questions, help may already be on the way while we gather more details.

On the water, your location is everything.
If you call 911, be ready to describe where you are as clearly as possible.

G.H. Gull wants you to know that ocean safety starts before you go in

Grays Harbor’s beaches are beautiful, but the ocean can change quickly and unexpectedly.

Even on calm days, there are risks:

Cold water shock can happen within minutes

Rip currents can pull even strong swimmers away from shore

Sneaker waves can knock people off their feet

If you or someone else is:

Struggling in the water
Pulled out by a current
Not responding or not breathing

Call 911 immediately

While waiting for help:

Keep your eyes on the person at all times
Try to note their last known location
Do not put yourself in danger trying to rescue them

Like a seagull watching the shoreline, staying aware of conditions can help keep you safe.

When in doubt, call 911. We’re here to help.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in 911?

Our team is here to answer your questions.

Drop your questions in the comments, we may feature them in an upcoming post.

What have you always wanted to know about 911?

Telecommunicators are often the first point of contact in an emergency.

They:

Get help started quickly
Provide critical information to responders
Support callers through stressful situations
Help keep responders safe

Like a harbor seal keeping watch, dispatchers are always alert and ready to respond when needed.

You may not see them, but they are always there and always ready.

Every call matters. Every second counts.

Behind every emergency response is a Telecommunicator helping make it happen.

To our Aberdeen residents… Some important information.

May 2026 Call Statistics

No two days are ever the same at Grays Harbor 911.

In a single shift, a telecommunicator may:

Answer emergency and non-emergency calls
Dispatch police, fire, and EMS
Provide life-saving instructions
Monitor multiple incidents at once

All while staying calm, focused, and professional.

Like a harbor seal navigating changing tides, dispatchers adapt quickly to whatever comes their way.

It’s fast-paced, meaningful work that makes a real difference to our community.

Telecommunicators handle emergencies, support responders, and help the public, all in one shift.

We’ve gotten a lot of calls this week about baby seals on the beach. This is normal, please don’t touch them and stay away from them.

Their moms will be back!

Heading to the coast this holiday weekend? Be sure to keep your distance from harbor seals and their pups that you may find along shorelines.

Harbor seals intentionally leave their pups on shore while the adults are away feeding. During that time the pups are resting and keeping warm - it’s much warmer on the shore than it is in the Pacific Ocean! Seeing a seal pup alone doesn't usually mean there is something wrong.

Remember to never approach, feed, or disturb harbor seals or their pups. It is a violation of federal law to harass seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals. Share the Shore with seals and sea lions by watching marine mammals in a safe, responsible way. Follow these tips from NOAA Fisheries West Coast !

-Give them space: NOAA recommends you keep yourself and your pets at least 100 yards (the length of a football field) from seals to make sure you're not disrupting them.
-Be considerate of mothers and pups: Moms may not return if humans are too close to the pup onshore. Keep your distance so mom can return to care for her pup.
-Keep pets away and on a leash: Pets can disturb or harm wildlife, or may separate mothers from their pups.
-Report strandings: If you see an obviously injured, stranded, or dead animal please call NOAA’s West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 866-767-6114.

Learn more at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/marine-life-viewing-guidelines/share-shore-watch-marine-mammals-responsibly

📷 WDFW

Being a telecommunicator isn’t just about answering phones or radios it’s about having the right mindset and skills.

Great telecommunicators are:

Calm under pressure
Strong communicators
Excellent listeners
Detail-oriented
Able to multitask in a fast-paced environment

These are skills that can be learned and strengthened with training and experience.

Harbor seals are known for being observant and responsive, two qualities that are essential in 911.

If you have the right mindset, we can teach the rest.

Think you have what it takes?
Great dispatchers are calm, focused, and strong communicators.