Departments nationwide are dispatched via predetermined tones. In Dutchess County, the 911 center dispatches county departments in a systematic method: district tones, then station tones and EMS tones.

Here is an example of East Fishkill's tones:

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The components of this tone sequence are:

• EFFD District tone (repeated twice with three short bursts denoting pager in between)
• EFFD Station 1
• EFFD Station 2
• EFFD Station 3
• EFFD Station 4 (Wiccopee)
• Mobile Life Support Services (Our primary ALS provider)

Of course, this entire sequence is rarely heard in a normal operation day, as few calls require the dispatch of all four stations.

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