Mayor Jerry Abramson today said that MetroSafe, the city’s state-of-the-art emergency-communications system, will serve as a tribute to the firefighters, EMS, police and other first responders who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Abramson, along with the chiefs of Louisville’s police, fire and EMS departments, will dedicate the MetroSafe building at 5th and Liberty streets as part of the city’s commemoration event marking the five-year anniversary of 9/11, today at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend.

“As we solemnly look back on one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, we also look forward as a community focused on preparedness and collaborative emergency response,” Abramson said.

Improving emergency communications was one of the top recommendations from the federal 9/11 Commission’s report, after New York fire, police and other agencies could not communicate with one another following the attacks.

Louisville has completed the first two phases of MetroSafe, that enable the city’s police, fire, EMS and other emergency responders to communicate and put 9-1-1 calltakers and dispatchers on the same computer system to speed response. The third and final phase includes an extensive radio-communications network and a new, unified radio system for emergency vehicles.

Abramson will make remarks, as will Congresswoman Ann Northup and Dr. Neal Richmond, chief executive officer of Louisville Metro EMS, who served as deputy medical director of the New York Fire Department EMS during 9/11.

‘Flag of Heroes’ displayed at Metro Hall
Also on display at the ceremony will be a commemorative U.S. flag the New York City Fire Department provided to Louisville after flying it over Ground Zero. The “Flag of Heroes” contains the names of the New York emergency responders who died in the 9/11 attacks, including New York Fire Department, Police Department, Port Authority and EMS personnel.

Richmond said the Office of the New York Fire Commissioner sent the flag after learning of Louisville’s 9/11 commemoration and MetroSafe dedication.

The Flag of Heroes will be on display in Louisville Metro Hall, 527 W. Jefferson St., following Monday’s ceremony until 5 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday, Sept. 12-15, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.