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Across California, from San Diego’s coastline to the peaks of Shasta, more than 28 million calls pour in every year. It’s the highest volume in the nation. Yet, behind every one of those calls lies a hidden dependency – the accuracy of a map.

When an address point is missing or a boundary line doesn’t quite meet its neighbor, the failure is measured in critical seconds lost, emergency responders misrouted, and lives dangling on the line.

Each county has its own legacy systems, schemas, and workflows, often built in isolation. The seams between them (where a road crosses a boundary or a call originates at the edge of two jurisdictions) are where cracks begin to show. California’s scale magnifies that risk. With the largest population, the most addresses, and hundreds of PSAPs spanning dozens of counties, no other state faces the same geographic and data complexity. 

Every call that crosses a city line or county border tests the strength of California’s geospatial fabric. And when that fabric frays, the consequences ripple through dispatch centers, first responders, and the citizens depending on them.

California’s Complex 9-1-1 Landscape (and Why It Matters)

The sheer number of PSAPs and jurisdictions in California is enormous, with 438 PSAPs handling over 28 million emergency calls each year, spread across 58 counties and many city jurisdictions. These PSAPs span dense urban centers, sprawling suburbs, rural towns, and remote parks, reflecting California’s diverse geography and infrastructure. That scale makes coordination difficult. Each county and city has long managed its own address and street data, often with different formats and validation methods. Boundaries don’t always align (one county’s road centerline might end just short of its neighbor’s), creating gaps and overlaps that can confuse call routing.

NG9-1-1 doesn’t erase these problems, but it does expose them. When a caller is near a city or county border, only standardized, reconciled GIS data ensures their call reaches the right dispatcher the first time.

The good news: California’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) recognizes the challenge and is funding the solution. The Cal OES 9-1-1 Branch is building a statewide NG9-1-1 GIS dataset and offering reimbursements from $50,000 to $500,000 per jurisdiction for local GIS upgrades. These funds can cover staff time or vendor support to clean, standardize, and validate GIS data, so no local agency has to go it alone.

The Risks of Inaction in NG911 Transition

With funding on the table and clear direction from Cal OES, the path forward is straightforward. What’s left is the choice to act or not. And inaction is not neutral. It carries serious, measurable risks for local agencies and the communities they serve. 

Here are the top seven risks California jurisdictions face if they delay GIS preparation for NG911:

1. The Liability Misconception: Doing Nothing Is the Bigger Risk

Some jurisdictions hesitate to share GIS data – such as address points or road centerlines – because they fear liability if a 9-1-1 call is misrouted. In reality, withholding data creates far greater risk. By not providing authoritative GIS data, the jurisdiction fails to comply with Cal OES guidance, forcing Cal OES to rely on commercially available data instead. If a call is misrouted because of inaccurate or incomplete data, Cal OES can document that it requested the information and did not receive it. The liability then shifts squarely to the non-compliant jurisdiction.

2. Overreliance on State-Provided Tools

Some agencies rely solely on the tools and templates supplied by Cal OES to upload GIS data into the NG9-1-1 system. While these tools ensure correct formatting for call routing, they do not account for local data needs or unique workflows. By using purpose-built, local software solutions in tandem with state tools, jurisdictions can validate their data once (for both NG9-1-1 and local operations) reducing redundant effort and minimizing the risk of submitting incomplete or non-validated data.

3. Life-Threatening Delays from Misrouted Calls

Inaccurate GIS data can cause 9-1-1 calls to be routed to the wrong PSAP. When that happens, call-takers must manually determine the correct jurisdiction and transfer the call, delaying response by 30 to 90 seconds, which could mean the difference between life and death. Maintaining precise GIS data directly translates into faster response times and saved lives.

4. Public Confidence and Reputation at Stake

In today’s social-media-driven environment, public trust can evaporate quickly after a preventable failure. Jurisdictions that cannot demonstrate they have maintained accurate GIS data risk public criticism and reputational damage. The strongest position is to show, with evidence, that the community’s safety systems are built on authoritative, current data.

5. Outdated Data Means Outdated Response

Communities evolve constantly, with new roads, new developments, and new addresses appearing every year. Without a defined process to capture and update these changes, GIS data quickly becomes obsolete. Outdated address points or road centerlines can prevent 9-1-1 calls from reaching the right responders, undermining the very foundation of NG9-1-1 readiness.

6. Fragmented Systems Slow First Responders

Emergency response agencies depend on accurate, integrated GIS data to navigate efficiently. Many still rely on legacy CAD data or commercial datasets that lack authoritative address points and road centerlines. Without integration, first responders may need to cross-reference multiple systems (or rely on local knowledge) to find the fastest route. Integrating authoritative GIS data across fire, EMS, and law enforcement systems enables faster arrival times and reduced operational risk.

7. GIS Data Requires Continuous Management

Accurate 9-1-1 GIS data is not a one-time project but a living, mission-critical asset that must be updated routinely. Spelling errors, incorrect coordinates, and outdated address points can all compromise routing accuracy if not continually validated. Jurisdictions need agile, automated software to manage updates efficiently, eliminate manual errors, and maintain compliance with NG9-1-1 standards.

Bottom line: Staying put with legacy 911 GIS processes isn’t safe or sustainable. It creates liability, invites call failures, and leaves agencies dependent on brittle data. When bad data slips through, the price is paid in emergency response: misrouted calls and delayed dispatch. No one wants their community to become the next cautionary tale of a 911 call gone wrong due to outdated maps.

Seizing the Opportunity: Funding, Tools, and the Road Ahead

California’s NG9-1-1 transition is underway now; and while progress may pause for review, the direction is unmistakable. Regardless of the direction, NG9-1-1 requires accurate, updated GIS data and that work can begin now. The future of 9-1-1 is IP-based, geospatial, and data-driven. The question for local agencies is simple: will you lead, or fall behind?

The risks of waiting are too great to ignore: liability, misrouted calls, delayed response, and non-compliance. But the rewards of early action are just as clear: faster response times, smoother operations, and a confident, statewide cutover to NG9-1-1.

Modern software solutions like 1Spatial’s 1Engage make it easier than ever to prepare. Built on rules-based validation aligned with NENA standards, 1Engage helps jurisdictions validate and standardize GIS data automatically, without rebuilding their workflows from scratch. Across California, counties already using automated validation are reducing errors, accelerating readiness, and creating proven templates for others to follow.

Every day of delay is an unnecessary gamble with public safety. By contrast, cleaning up GIS data, automating validation, and using available Cal OES funding are strategic moves that pay off in both efficiency and lives saved.

The path to NG9-1-1 doesn’t have to be daunting. It’s a chance to modernize, collaborate, and strengthen the foundation of California’s public safety network.

Connect with our NG9-1-1 experts today and see how 1Engage can help ensure that every call – every time – gets the help it needs.

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