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Buncombe County - Ongoing State of Emergency

24/7 Call Center for Hurricane Helene: (828) 250-6100. Visit buncombeready.org for updates

State of Emergency

Learn how to be prepared

911 SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR EMERGENCIES

When you dial 911, your call is received by a trained communications specialist who takes your information and dispatches the appropriate police, fire, and/or medical services team located in your area.

When using 911, remain calm and speak clearly. Tell the dispatcher what is happening, where the incident is occurring, your name, address, and phone number. Remain on the phone to provide additional information as needed.
Do not hang up until the dispatcher advises you to do so.

Never Call 911 As A Joke

The equipment we have indicates where the call is coming from. We are required to verify if there is an emergency. If that can't be done, we will send a Law Enforcement Officer out to check.

This could engage an officer's services when they might be needed on a real emergency. Abusing 911 in this manner could cost someone's life. It is a criminal offense to intentionally abuse 911.

Never Call To Ask For Information

Use 411 for directory assistance, and call the non-emergency number for the public safety agency you wish to reach.

Never Call 9-1-1 Just To See If It Works

It does. Calls to 911 from a pay phone are free.

A call to 911 should always be a call for help! Use 911 for life-threatening incidents. These include:

  • If someone is hurt.
  • If you see someone taking something that belongs to someone else.
  • If you see someone hurting someone else.
  • If you smell smoke or see fire.

Texting 911

Too dangerous to talk? Text 911.


Notice: Buncombe County Emergency Responders accept texting as an option for contacting 911.

If at all possible, please call 911 versus texting:

  • 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 9-1-1, 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.

Street Addressing & Geographic Maps

Street Addressing

In accordance with County policy and to enable a better emergency response, the addressing office will provide a street address for new construction, for previously existing structures which have not had a physical street address assigned, and for the naming of new roads and private drives. Please call 250-4830 for more information.

News & Information

Job Openings

Are you interested in a career working with Public Safety Communications? Have you ever wondered what a typical day is like? Watch the below video, and then view our current job openings.

Locate & Contact

Emergency Services

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Contact

Derrick S. Ruble
Public Safety Communications | Director
P: (828) 250-6645
F: (828) 250-6698

Public Safety Communications Center
164 Erwin Hills Road
Asheville, NC 28806

Hours of Operation

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

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