Here is some actual information on this situation:
http://www.10news.com/investigations/9050392/detail.html
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Cell Phones Hinder Call Response

POSTED: 1:50 pm PDT April 27, 2006
UPDATED: 6:18 pm PDT April 27, 2006

SAN DIEGO -- In times of emergencies, 911 operators are your first line of help.

The San Diego County Sheriff Department's 911 system has the best record in the nation for quick action by answering phones on average of two seconds. The national average is 10 seconds.

"If we're short staffed, we will not sacrifice 911. We will go down on administrative calls, but we will not go down bodies on 911," San Diego County 911 Coordinator Hanan Harb said.

"The phones are flooded because everyone in their cars are picking up their phones to dial 911," CHP spokesman Larry Landeros said.

Cell phone 911 calls in the state have nearly tripled in less than a decade. That's up from 3 million in 1997 to more than 8 million last year.

CHP 911 operators in San Diego answer almost 4,000 calls every day.

And while the call load skyrockets, operator staffing is plummeting. Landeros said staffing is down from 50 operators at the Kearny Mesa call center to 27.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department Communication Center will take over 911 cell phone calls made in San Diego County in June, which could alleviate some of the wait time, according to 10News.

However, the CHP will still have to answer 911 cell phone calls everywhere else in the state. Officials said the public should put pressure on state lawmakers to better fund the CHP 911 system.
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It sounds like they are doing their best in a difficult situation. Hope they find more ways to make the 911 system better.

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