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Text to 9-1-1 service is now available in the Gulf Coast 9-1-1 eight county region. This service is offered by all providers to mobile customers with a text or data plan.
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Voice calls are still the best and fastest way to contact 9-1-1. Text to 911 should only be used in an emergency and in circumstances when you cannot safely call 911.
Text to 9-1-1 is the ability to send a text message to 9-1-1 from a cell phone or handheld device.
Mobile customers can text to 9-1-1. You must have a device with a data or text plan to send text messages.
If text to 9-1-1 is not available in your area, or is temporarily unavailable, you should receive a message indicating that text to 9-1-1 is not available and to contact 9-1-1 by other means.
It is recommended to text 9-1-1 when it is not safe to place a voice 9-1-1 call, for an individual who is deaf or hard-of-hearing or for someone who is in a situation where they cannot talk, or during a medical emergency that renders the person incapable of speech.
The same texting issues that occur today may occur with text to 9-1-1. 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. 9-1-1 call takers will not be able to hear any background noise that could help with assisting during the emergency.
Voice calls are real-time communication and text to 9-1-1 is not.
Voice calls will still be the fastest and best way to reach 9-1-1.
Text your exact location and what emergency help is needed, text in simple words - no abbreviations or slang, and keep text messages short.
A 9-1-1 call center should respond to the text. If a text to 9-1-1 message does NOT go through, you should receive a bounce back message from the wireless carrier stating that text to 9-1-1 is not available. If you get a bounce-back text, you must place a voice or relay call to 9-1-1.
Texting to 9-1-1 costs the same as the text charges you pay on all messages.
Not at this time.
No. Do not send your emergency text to anyone other than 9-1-1.
Text messages should be sent in English only. The GCRECD has language interpretation for voice calls to 9-1-1.
You have to have a either a data or text plan to text to 9-1-1.