Final answer:
A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is a facility that fields emergency calls for police, fire, and EMS services, offering immediate dispatch and coordination of resources without additional charges to the caller.
Step-by-step explanation:
The center that receives emergency calls requesting assistance from police, fire, or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is known as a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). PSAPs are critical components of local emergency services, providing a first point of contact for individuals in need. They are typically operated by governmental bodies and are funded through taxes, delivering services without additional charges to the caller. PSAPs ensure efficient dispatching of police, firefighters, or EMS personnel to the scene of an incident.
Just like the fire department ambulance which quickly responds to emergencies, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters featuring emergency management centers, PSAPs are vital for public safety and disaster management. Their highly trained operators use advanced systems, sometimes with Geographical Information System (GIS) displays, to monitor situations and allocate resources appropriately during crises.