9-1-1: Call if You Can, Text if You Can’t

Text to 9-1-1 service is available throughout Harris, Fort Bend and Galveston Counties. This service is available for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing or who are in a situation when they cannot make a voice call.

1. If there is an emergency and you are unable to make a voice call, remember these steps:
   • Know your location – Text your exact location
   • Text what you need – Text what emergency help is needed.
   • Be clear – Send a short text message without abbreviations or slang.
   • Stay Calm – Answer questions and follow instructions from the 9-1-1 call taker.
2. Don’t Abuse 9-1-1—Text-to–9-1-1 service is ONLY for emergencies.
   • It is a crime to text or call 9-1-1 with a false report. Prank texters can be located.
3. The text-to-9-1-1 service has some challenges.
   • As with all text messages, messages to 9-1-1 may take longer to receive, may get out of order, or may not be received at all.
   • Text-to-9-1-1 service is only available in some areas of Texas, and by some wireless carriers in Texas and the U.S.

If someone sends a text to 9-1-1 from outside of the texting service area, they should receive reply saying that text 9-1-1 is not available and to contact 9-1-1 by other means.

For more information about text-to-9-1-1 service go to http://911.org/Text_to_9-11_FAQs.asp

Submitter Email: sclauson@911.org

Submitter URL: http://www.911.org%20