FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Subscribing is Free

Anyone can subscribe to our FREE Alerts service and receive reports as well as community updates via E-mail. Users can even filter out specific response types.

We Pledge to Have Accurate Data

We will continue to strive to provide the most accurate and timely incident response data available online and we will never scrape information from other sites or sources!

Search by Response Type

Users can customize their search to display any one of the nine incident types available at ResponseMapping.com.

Go Back 180 Days

Users can map out and report on incident response activity as far back as one hundred and eighty days. We work hard to make sure our information is accurate and timely.

Create Charts On the Fly

ResponseMapping.com allows users to create custom reports and charts about recent incident response activity occurring within a radius of any address or within the full map extent.

Create Detailed Reports On the Fly

Users can click on any record in our detailed reports and ResponseMapping.com will automatically map out the location where that incident occurred.

In Business Since 1992

Our team has been working with public safety agencies since 1992 and The Omega Group offers a wide range of software as well as services.

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What is ResponseMapping.com?

ResponseMapping.com has been developed by The Omega Group to help public safety agencies (fire departments and EMS agencies) throughout North America provide the public with valuable information about recent response activity in their neighborhood. Our goal is to assist these agencies in providing information to the public about the part they play in public safety in the community, hopefully leading to more involvement by the citizens in supporting public safety and the special programs the agencies are engaged in.

ResponseMapping.com utilizes ESRI’s advanced mapping engine which helps us provide a high level of functionality as well as flexibility to the agencies we serve. Response data is extracted on a regular basis from each department's records system so that the information being viewed through a Web browser is the most current available. This data is always verified for accuracy and all address information is generalized by block in order to help insure privacy is protected.

The Omega Group has been working with public safety agencies throughout North America since 1992. Hundreds of police, sheriff and fire/EMS agencies are currently using one of our desktop or Web-based CrimeView or FireView solutions for their mapping, reporting and analysis needs. Along with CrimeMapping.com, ResponseMapping.com represents our nationwide public service. We understand the sensitive nature of incident data and work hard to maintain integrity as well as security with every solution we provide.

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Where does the incident data come from?

Providing accurate and timely data is something The Omega Group takes pride in. We extract data from the existing records system at each fire departments or EMS agency through an automated import process. The data we display will always be the most current available.

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How are response times calculated?

There are two possible response time reports: Total Reflex Time or Department Response Time. Total Reflex Time is measured as the time from when the 911 call is made until the first responder arrives on scene. This response time includes the call processing time. Department Response Time is measured as the time from when the fire/EMS department is alerted/dispatched to the incident. This response time does not include the call processing time because sometimes the responding public safety agency does not control the call processing time and then the Department Response Time is a better measure of their performance. Both response times include the Turnout Time (time from dispatch to wheels rolling) and Travel Time (time to drive to the scene).

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What is the difference between Average and 90th Percentile response times?

The Average Response Time is calculated by taking a simple arithmetic mean (average) of the response times using all of the selected incidents. The 90th Percentile Response Time is an alternative measure to the average used extensively throughout Fire and EMS agencies. All of the response times are ranked from shortest (bottom) to longest (top) and the response time ranked 90% up from the bottom (or 10% from the top) is used. This measure is used to mitigate the effects of zero (0) response time values or especially high values (accurate or mistakes) that can be found in the data. For more information on percentiles, please refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percentile.

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How is the Response Time Chart created?

In the Response Time Chart (found under the Trend Reports link) all response time values are rounded up to the nearest integer, counted for each integer category and also grouped within each column by incident type.

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How can I get historical or additional information for an incident?

ResponseMapping.com includes a rolling one hundred and eighty (180) days’ worth of incident data. If you require more historical data or more detailed information regarding a specific incident you should contact the public information officer at your public safety agency.

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Why am I not seeing an incident that I know occurred?

Each incident has to be confirmed and entered as a report by the public safety agency before it can be uploaded to our website. For some incidents it may take some time for this process to be completed so it would not immediately appear on the website. If the case is still an open investigation (e.g., arson), it may not appear until the case is closed.

It could also be possible that the incidents in question were responded to by another agency that does not subscribe to our website. Some agencies may also request that we do not display specific incident types as well.

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What types of incidents are displayed?

See the Legend

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How can I receive information automatically?

Any member of the public can sign up to Receive Incident Alerts! This additional service is free and provides customized reports via e-mail to any subscriber. Having a well-informed citizenry has been proven effective in improving public safety.

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How do I change my subscription details (email address, home address, buffer, or incident type)?

The buffer distance can be changed by unsubscribing from your existing Incident Alerts account and subscribing again with a different buffer distance during Step 3 of the process. The unsubscribe link can be found at the bottom of each Incident Alert e-mail. Our buffer distance option allows you to choose a specific radius around a home, business or school in order to learn more about incident activity in your community.

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How do I unsubscribe from my Incident Alerts subscription?

Click the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the Incident Alert e-mail you wish to stop receiving.

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If I unsubscribe will all of my Incident Alerts subscriptions be removed?

No, only the subscription you choose to unsubscribe from will be eliminated. It will not affect any other Incident Alerts you are subscribed to.

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Can I subscribe to multiple Incident Alerts with the same e-mail address?

Yes, you can subscribe to several different Incident Alerts using the same e-mail address. Many users subscribe using their home, work or child’s school address. You can also subscribe with different incident categories selected as well as buffer distances.

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Why did I get unsubscribed when I didn't want to?

Clicking the unsubscribe link in your Incident Alert email is the only way in which to cancel an incident alert subscription. If you forward these emails to fellow citizens, they could be unsubscribing you. We recommend removing the unsubscribe link from your email before forwarding these.

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Trouble signing up for Incident Alert emails?

Did you receive the initial email welcoming you to ResponseMapping.com? If so there is a “save my subscription” link in the email that you need to click on in order to confirm your incident alert subscription within 24 hours of signing up for our service. Once you do this you will receive a second email confirming that your subscription has been saved.

If you did not receive the welcome email or you followed these steps and still have not received alerts try re-subscribing and confirm that you have sent us your correct email information. Also check to make sure that our emails are not being sent to your junk mail or being blocked by your email service.

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Why did I not receive an incident alert today?

An incident alert email will only be sent to you if there is a new incident reported in the area that you have selected for your incident alert email.

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What browser should I use to access ResponseMapping.com?

To ensure the best possible experience using ResponseMapping.com, it is recommended that you view the website with one of the following browsers: Safari, Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 8+, and other modern browsers.

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How often is the data updated?

The data we post is gathered with the permission of each agency and is updated on the site once per day.

The date range for incidents displayed represents the last one hundred and eighty (180) days of activity. This may vary somewhat between agencies depending upon their reporting process.

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Is there a limit to the number of points that can be displayed?

Yes, in order to maximize speed and efficiency at ResponseMapping.com there is an 800 point limit to the amount of data you can plot at any one time. If you go beyond the 800 point limit you should zoom into a smaller area, reduce the date range or reduce the number of incident types you are plotting.

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If I register for Incident Alerts is my privacy protected?

Yes, your email address and registration information will only be used for Incident Alerts. We do not share your contact information with any third parties. You can also unsubscribe at any time.

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Is there a cost to use ResponseMapping.com?

It should be noted that our service is funded by your local public safety agency and is absolutely FREE for the general public!

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What do I do if the map doesn't come up?

Occasionally your browser will cache the application's resources (pages, scripts, images, etc.) and will not replace them with a current version when the application is updated. This issue might affect the main mapping interface and/or the report pages. If this occurs you need to force your browser to refresh its cache and retrieve the latest resources. This can be done by visiting any page and pressing the F5 key. Alternatively you can also press Shift + R, Control + R, or Command + R for the same effect.

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How can I get my agency online?

Sharing incident data with the community is a choice each agency makes. We believe that this is a valuable service that has proven to improve public safety in many areas by helping to keep the general public better informed. If you believe your agency should join this nationwide effort please contact the public information officer at your local public safety agency to let them know about ResponseMapping.com. Hearing from a member of the community that they serve will have a greater impact than hearing from us. Once contact has been made, we will happily work with your public safety agency to bring our response mapping solution to your area.

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What is The Omega Group?

The Omega Group has been helping public safety agencies with our incident analysis and mapping tools since 1992. Throughout the United States, hundreds of agencies currently use one of our desktop or web-based CrimeView and FireView solutions. We are the premier provider of innovative solutions for public safety mapping, analysis and reporting.

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How many departments do you serve?

The Omega Group serves hundreds of law enforcement and public safety agencies with our desktop and Web based mapping applications. Our clients range from large agencies serving populations with millions of people to smaller agencies serving less than 15,000 residents. Because ResponseMapping.com is so cost effective any sized agency can afford the service.

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What sets your service apart from others?

We take pride in working with public safety agencies throughout North America since 1992. We never post data without the expressed permission of each agency and our information is always validated through direct collaboration with agency personnel. We also never scrape data from other sites as this would reduce the integrity of our content. And we’ll be here tomorrow when you need us.

DO YOU NEED A BETTER BROWSER?

ResponseMapping.com is best viewed in:
Safari, Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 8+
and other modern browsers.

We have been working with law enforcement and public safety agencies throughout North America since 1992. Hundreds of police, sheriff , fire and EMS departments are currently using one of our solutions for their crime and response analysis needs. Find out more about us, here.