Buncombe County Emergency Responders are now accepting texting as an option for contacting 911. However, there are some important details you should know:
- If you can make a voice call, they prefer you not text
- In an emergency, seconds matter, and 911 operators can get more information from you quicker from a voice call than from a texting conversation.
- When you first text 911, they will ask if you can get to a location to make a voice call. If not, continue with the text conversation.
- What are some situations that are good for texting 911:
- If you are hiding and don't want to give your position away.
- If you are in a domestic violence situation and need to discreetly contact first responders or the authorities.
- If you have bad cell reception, sometimes it is difficult for calls to go through, but texts still have the ability to send.
- If you text 911, what should you know beforehand:
- Texting 911 has limited abilities to let first responders know your exact location, so if you text 911, make sure you specify your exact location.
- Make sure you specify what kind of emergency it is. Is it a fire? Is it a medical emergency? Do you require law enforcement? Make sure to let them know in the initial text.
For more information about texting 911, you can visit buncombecounty.org/911.