Who we are

Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) 

Governance and Structure

In 1976, Clark Regional Communications Agency (CRCA) was established as a separate legal entity authorized by RCW 39.34.030(b) to provide consolidated 911 emergency communication services for all public safety providers within Clark County, Washington. In 1981, the inter-local agreement was amended and authorized by RCW 38.52 for CRCA to provide emergency management services for the county and seven cities within the county. In 2001, the inter-local agreement was again amended, changing the name of CRCA to Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA).

CRESA is divided into four main Divisions each administered by a Division Manager who reports to the agency’s Director. These Divisions include: 911 Operations, Technical Services, Finance, and Emergency Management. The Director is appointed by and reports to the CRESA Administrative Board composed of representatives from the participating jurisdictions and public safety providers in Clark County, Washington.

Regional Service Provider 

As a regional agency, CRESA provides emergency communications and emergency management services for all public safety disciplines (police, fire and medical) and jurisdictions in Clark County, Washington. Having all law enforcement, fire and EMS providers coordinated by one 911 center can improve coverage and response between all the disciplines. Having the service area be multi-jurisdictional, also reduces costs by pooling resources for infrastructure development and improves coordination between jurisdictional responders. In addition, being a regional 911 service, CRESA is able to take advantage of economies of scale by having a sufficient service area population that maximizes the use of 911 phone user fees and minimizes dependence on fees to our fire, police and medical responders.

Quality Service Provider 

CRESA has a long history of providing quality service to the community. In 1993, CRESA became the first in the Pacific NW and forth in the world to be a Medical Accredited Center of Excellence by the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch. In 2002, CRESA was the second 911 center in the State of Washington to qualify for Public Safety Communications Accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). In 2013, CRESA’s training program joined a handful of other 911 centers in Washington to receive Training Program Certification by Association of Public Safety Communication Officials. In 2015, CRESA was recognized as one of the top ten 911 centers in the nation by the editorial staff of 911DispatcherEDU Top 10 911 Centers. This recognition was based on national awards, individual dispatcher recognition and outstanding performance in the midst of large-scale emergencies. 

Advanced Public Safety Technology 

CRESA has a strong technology infrastructure including a Next Generation 911 digital phone system that is on the State’s Emergency Service Internet Protocol Network (ESInet) that provides a geo-diverse dual-host/remote digital 911 phone system between CRESA and two other 911 dispatch centers.  This type of phone system allows one center to continue receiving calls for another center whose phone system goes down unexpectedly. CRESA also has a federally compliant 800 MHz radio system that allows for communications interoperability between public safety responders throughout the region.