Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.

Public Safety

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  • The Dept. of Public Safety Office is open Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

    The 9-1-1 Center is open 24/7.

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  • The Cumberland County Department of Public Safety is located just outside of Carlisle Borough off Claremont Rd. 

    The address is 1 Public Safety Dr. Carlisle, PA 17013.

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  • The Department of Public Safety is organized into two Operational Divisions, Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management. 

    DPS employs a highly qualified and trained team of public safety professionals who work 24/7 to make sure Cumberland County is safe for our residents and visitors. 

    Our services include:

    • Emergency communications: 9-1-1 call-taking and radio dispatch
    • Emergency management, preparedness, and coordination
    • Public safety technology
    • Public information and community outreach
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  • No. Please contact the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office or your local Police Department. 

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  • 911 is the universal emergency number that you can use 24 hours a day for Police, Fire, or Emergency Medical Services.

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  • 911 is only to be used in emergency situations. 

    An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police, the fire department or an ambulance. 

    Some examples are: 

    • Fire (Ex: House, Wildfire, and Vehicle)
    • A crime, if it is in progress or has just occurred
    • Motor Vehicle Accident, especially if someone is injured, or trapped
    • A Reckless driver
    • Medical emergencies
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  • Do not call 911 for non-emergencies. 

    Some examples are: 

    • For general information 
    • For directory assistance
    • For paying traffic tickets
    • For directions/road conditions
    • For power outages/phone repairs (unless other conditions exist e.g. wires arcing, smoke, fire, etc.)
    • Non-emergency EMS transports 
    • As a prank

    If you call 9-1-1 by mistake, do not hang up. Tell the call taker what happened so they know there really isn't an emergency.

    For non-emergencies, you may call the communications center at the following:

    • Carlisle Area - 717.243.4121
    • West Shore - 717.238.9676
    • Shippensburg - 717.532.8878
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  • The call taker will ask: 

    • What is the address of the emergency? 
    • What township or borough is the emergency in? This is very important as road names and addresses are repeated throughout the County. 
    • What is the phone number you are calling from?
    • What is your name?
    • Tell me exactly what happened.
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  • Yes. For non-emergencies, you may call the communications center at the following:

    • Carlisle Area - 717.243.4121
    • West Shore - 717.238.9676
    • Shippensburg - 717.532.8878
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  • Yes. To arrange a tour, please contact, Michael Snyder at mrsnyder@cumberlandcountypa.gov, or call 717.218.2916. 

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  • Please refer to the Cumberland County Open Records page for a right-to-know request.

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  • Cumberland County Emergency Management works to enhance the county’s resiliency by actively collaborating, communicating, and coordinating to prevent, mitigate, respond, and recover from disasters. 

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  • EOC stands for Emergency Operations Center. An EOC is an area set aside for use by Emergency Management during a disaster to conduct coordinating operations regarding the disaster, conducts emergency communications, and distributes information to stakeholders and the media. 

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    • Prepare an Emergency Kit- This should include a 3-day supply of necessities for each person in your family, such as food, medicine, water, games, flashlight, and special toys to help keep your children calm during an emergency.
    • Create a Family Emergency Plan-Some disasters strike without any warning, and family members may not all be in the same place. How will you get in touch with each other? Where will you meet? How will you get out of your house in case of a fire? What if your neighborhood is being evacuated? It's important to make a plan, now, so that you will know what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in an emergency.
    • Be Informed, Stay Informed- Get vital information, such as emergency warnings and alerts, from reliable news sources and your local emergency management agency.
    • For more Information- Go to www.ready.pa.gov/beprepared
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  • A call to "shelter in place" happens when a severe emergency takes place.

    To "shelter in place" means find shelter in the building you're in. You're not meant to find another place to shelter, as leaving the building is considered dangerous.

    If you're outdoors during a shelter in place call, you need to get to safety as fast as possible.

    A Shelter in place order is issued to keep people safe indoors while an emergency event takes place. The initiative hopes to reduce stress and ensure everyone's safety where they are.

    You may be told to shelter in place for many reasons, including:

    • Criminal activity: Active shooter, people with weapons, or threatening behavior
    • Severe weather: Tornado, hail, winter storm, flooding, or hurricane
    • Dangerous debris conditions: After an earthquake, or other destructive event
    • Hazardous contaminants release: Chemical, biological, or radiological 
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