Which system ensures continuity of dispatch operations during outages?

• A. Back Up Dispatch System
• B. Everbridge
• C. CAD
• D. Backup Center Response

Answer: (A)

Continuity of dispatch operations during outages relies on having a backup, independent system that can immediately take over dispatch duties. The Back Up Dispatch System is designed to mirror the essential functions of the primary CAD, including accepting calls or messages, creating incidents, assigning and tracking units, updating statuses, and communicating with field responders. It’s paired with infrastructure and procedures—such as off-site hosting, redundant power, data replication, and automatic failover—that enable quick activation when the main system fails. This setup keeps the dispatch center operational, minimizes delays, and maintains coordination with units and responders even during outages.

Everbridge is for notifying personnel and stakeholders during incidents, not for handling the dispatch workflow itself. CAD is the primary system that actually manages calls and unit deployment, but without a backup system, outages can halt operations. The term Backup Center Response describes a plan to respond from a secondary location, but the specified mechanism that ensures continuous dispatch capability is the Back Up Dispatch System itself.