Texting to 9-1-1
Texting to 9-1-1
While texting is a great service, talking/calling 9-1-1 is preferred when possible.
Currently available for Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint and C Spire customers in Mobile County.
The goal is to provide texting to 9-1-1 capability to the residents who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, as well as others who need to use text in emergency situations.
Text to 9-1-1 service should not raise your wireless bill. It’s funded by an existing fee that is already included in your phone service fees.
National Emergency Number Association (NENA) to 9-1-1 Tips
Call if you can, text if you can’t.
Can I send a text to 9-1-1?
Texting to 9-1-1 is not available in most areas. The 9-1-1 industry is committed to working with wireless carriers and the FCC to implement text-to-9-1-1 throughout the country in the next few years. You may check with your local 9-1-1 center or the FCC website to see if it is available in your area.
When text -to-9-1-1 is available in your area please remember : texting should only be used when you are unable to make a voice call to 9 -1-1.
Limitations
There are a number of limitations with this system you should be aware of:
- Location inaccuracies – It is critical that you know your location. Many people assume that exact location coordinates are automatically sent to 9-1-1 Centers. While this may be true for most wireline phones, 9-1-1 centers cannot always identify your location if you’re contacting us from a cell phone. Location accuracy can be even worse when texting than it is for voice calls. So, just like when you call 9-1-1 from a cell phone, you need to be able to describe WHERE you are so we can send you help.
- Texts to 9-1-1 cannot include photos, video, emoticons or other multimedia elements.
- 9-1-1 Centers will not be able to transfer Text to 9-1-1 calls to outside service providers such as crisis lines.
- Do not send your message to multiple people in a group text, because this will stop the message from reaching a 9-1-1 Center.
- Please text in English. At this time, language interpreting service isn’t available for Text to 9-1-1. 9-1-1 dispatchers will do their best to assist you if you aren’t able to text in English.
