Mercer County E-911

10/09/2026

If you’ve ever called in an emergency in Mercer County or worked a shift alongside our team, chances are you already know how steady and reliable Brian Hopper is. Now, the whole state knows it too.

We are beyond proud to share that Brian was officially named the 2026 WV Linda G. Johnson Award! 🏆

Winning this out of every single nomination across West Virginia is a massive deal, but to those of us who know him, it couldn't be more deserved.

Brian started right here at Mercer County 911 back in 2009 as a part-timer. Over the last 17 years, he’s put in the work at every level—moving to full-time, taking on a supervisor role, training new dispatchers, and serving as our TAC officer.

His long-time co-worker, Samantha Bailey, put his nomination together because she’s worked side-by-side with him for years and sees the calm, patient leadership he brings to the room every single day, no matter how chaotic things get.

Dispatching isn't a job with a lot of fanfare. Most of the time, dispatchers are working in the dark—literally behind screens, being the calm voice on the worst day of someone's life, and making sure our line-of-duty first responders make it home safe. It’s heavy work that rarely gets the public spotlight.

That’s why we want to give a genuine thank you to the West Virginia NENA and APCO Chapters and the WV 911 Council. Thank you for taking the time to highlight the folks on the headsets and making sure West Virginia dispatchers get the honor they’ve earned.

Brian, we are incredibly lucky to have you leading by example here at Mercer County.

Leave a comment below to help us congratulate Brian! 👇 Gold line proud! 💛🖤

BLUEFIELD — A veteran Mercer County 911 dispatcher has been named the recipient of the 2026 Linda G. Johnson Award, recognizing his years of service and contributions to public safety

09/11/2026

Where were you when the world changed?

Every year on September 11th, time seems to pause. For those of us answering the calls at Mercer County 911, it's a day of deep reflection. We remember the thousands of lives lost, including the brave West Virginians and heroic first responders who ran toward danger without a second thought.

"Never Forget" isn't just something we print on a poster—it's a daily standard of duty, service, and holding tight to the unity that carried our country through its darkest hour.

As we pause to honor their memory today, we want to ask our community: How do you keep their legacy alive in your daily life? What does "Never Forget" mean to you, years later?

Share a memory, tag a local hero, or drop a note of gratitude below. Let’s make sure their courage continues to guide how we care for one another every day.

09/07/2026

09/04/2026

❤️Today is a big day for Mercer County 911, and honestly…
It hit me right in the heart. ❤️

We officially signed the contract to bring Next Generation 911 to our community. This is something we’ve hoped for, worked toward, and worried we might not be able to afford for a long time. And today, it became real.

NG911 means more reliable phone service, better mapping and location accuracy, and redundant systems that keep 911 running even during major storms like Hurricane Helene. It means that when someone in Mercer County calls for help, the call gets through and help gets moving.

This was only made possible because two of our local foundations stepped up in a way that truly changed Mercer County's future:

🌟The Preservati Family Charitable Trust Foundation
- and-
🌟The Hugh I. Shott Jr. Foundation.

Without them, Mercer County would have to wait for NG911, possibly years. Years we don’t have when it comes to protecting our community.

In West Virginia, 911 centers are funded by landline and cellular fees, and the cost of NG911 is huge. Mercer County 911 is even more unique because we operate as our own authority. When we say we stand alone, we didn't know that wasn't really true, because these two amazing Foundations said: "Not today, we stand with you!"

I’m grateful. Our team is grateful. And our community is safer today because two Foundations believed in us and in the people we serve.

Mercer County 911 is moving forward, and we didn’t do it alone. ❤️

09/02/2026

🎶 “It’s hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world.” — Dolly Parton

Lucky for you, Mercer County 911 is looking for a few diamonds 💎 who can shine under pressure, answer calls like pros, and keep calm when everyone else is losing their minds.

We’re hiring Full‑Time Communications Officers — the voices behind the headset, the heroes behind the scenes, and the ones who know coffee is a food group.

💰 Starting at $16/hr (goes up after completion of training to $17.00)

Once you go full-time and finish your 6-month probation period:

🤑Receive an additional .50 cent an hour raise, then any other raises that are given in the future.
🩺 Full benefits — medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and retirement at 50
🕒 12‑hour shifts on a 2‑2‑3 rotation — every other weekend is a 3‑day weekend!

If you can multitask like Dolly sings harmonies and you’ve got a heart big enough to handle emergencies with grace, apply today.

👉 Mercer County 911 — where we don’t just work 9 to 5; we answer calls 24/7.

08/26/2026

🚨 TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT: Is the Caller the Killer? 🚨

This is one high-impact training session you definitely don't want to miss.

Open to All First Responders: This 2 day class is available to both 911 Telecommunicators and Law Enforcement Officers.

Bridge the Communication Gap: Training side-by-side helps dispatchers and officers build mutual understanding and analyze critical 911 call dynamics together.

Strengthen Your Skills: Learn to detect subtle call indicators, evaluate caller behavioral cues, and enhance scene safety before responders even arrive.

Pass this along to your patrol officers and investigators, and secure your spots today!

08/13/2026

It is almost that time...FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

We at Mercer County 911 request that, before you post those adorable first‑day‑of‑school photos, take a moment to review what’s visible.

Information such as a child’s name, teacher, grade, school, or favorite activities may appear harmless, yet together, these details can provide someone with bad intentions far more insight than they should have.

Yes, we want you to celebrate the milestone, but do it safely.

If you choose to share photos online, avoid including personal identifiers or location details. Instead, share those specific memories privately with trusted family and friends.

A few mindful choices today can help safeguard your child’s privacy tomorrow. 💙

Mercer County 911, committed to even our littlest community members' safety!!

07/30/2026

The Mercer County Communications Center Authority Board and its 911 Teams are proud to recognize West Virginia Donor Day on August 1st, and we’d love for our community to be part of it.

This post is dedicated to one of our amazing 911 Communications Officers, whom we are honored to have on our team. WV Donor Day has a special meaning to them, which means it has touched our lives here at Mercer County 911.

So we want to ask you to talk with the people in your life, such as family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, and help encourage more West Virginians to register as organ donors.

It’s worth sharing something truly amazing. One organ donor can save up to eight lives. That’s why WV Donor Day is held on 8/1, a date that reminds us of the eight lives one donor can change forever. How incredible is that, to know you touched so many lives and changed their futures with new possibilities?

Here in Mercer County, everyone has a role. Whether you’ve been personally touched by donation, run a local business, work with a nonprofit, or serve in healthcare, your voice matters. We have simple tools and resources to help you start conversations and spread awareness.

On 8/1, let’s come together as Mercer County and show the compassion, generosity, and community spirit that make our county and our state so special.

If you would like more information on being a donor, click the link below 👇

https://donatelifewv.org/wvdonorday/

Please share this information. Below is the WV Donor Day flyer if you would like to attach it to your posts!

Let's all work together to serve and save lives, in our own way.

(Mercer 911/Donor Day Photo: AI-generated)

07/20/2026

Thank you to our Director of Office of Emergency Management for Mercer County, for his post.

We wanted to also share.

As always, stay safe and stay informed!

There is a lot of hype on Social Media currently concerning the weather forecast for Tuesday July 21. Several sites are implying our area could see a " Derecho storm"

I think its important to understand what exactly a Derecho actually is.

A Derecho is a widespread, long-lived line or complex of Thunderstorm's that produces straight line winds of 58 mph or greater. These lines of storms typically span a large area and cover hundreds of miles with little to no weakening. These storms are formed and travel creating a bow-echo which is most often associated with straight-line wind damage and can last for hours or even days. While not to down play tomorrows forecast, I think its important we understand its always possible for developing storms to form a Derecho and that complex of storms then travel for many miles leaving large amounts of damage in its path. But at this point this is not known to be certain.

At this point the public need to know that there is a chance of severe weather tomorrow across our state, with the greater chance across the central region of WV. Make sure you have a way to receive weather alerts on your phone, and be more weather-alert tomorrow.

We will share Weather information from trusted sources such as US National Weather Service Blacksburg VA and US National Weather Service Charleston WV

As always Stay Weather Aware and stay informed.

07/09/2026

🚗 Mercer County 911 July Travel Safety Reminder

Summer in Mercer County means lake trips, ball tournaments, vacations, and a whole lot of miles on the road. If you ever need 911 while traveling, knowing your location helps responders reach you faster.

Quick tips for safer summer travel:

Use mile markers — They’re the fastest way for responders to pinpoint your location on highways.

Look for landmarks — Businesses, road signs, bridges, and intersections all help.

Drop a phone pin before hiking, exploring, or parking in unfamiliar areas.

Teach kids location basics — Simple descriptions can make a big difference.

Text‑to‑911 is available in Mercer County when calling isn’t possible.

Your Mercer County 911 team is here 24/7, wherever your summer takes you.