The Holly Springs Police Department’s 9-1-1 Center can now receive short message service (SMS) text messages to 911 for emergency help when a person is unable to make a 911 voice call. Our center is able to accept (SMS) text messages from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Comcast.
Text To 911 Is Intended For Use In Two
Emergency Scenarios:
For an individual who is speech or hearing impaired.
For a person who is unable to make a voice call, for example, during an emergency that renders the person incapable of speech, or in the instance of a home invasion, domestic violence, abduction, or other scenario where the caller could be further endangered by making a voice call.
Customers should use the texting option ONLY WHEN CALLING 911 IS NOT AN OPTION. If you are able to make a voice call to 911, and if it is safe to do so, you should always make a voice call to 911. As always, remember to never text and drive. “Call if you can, text if you can’t!”
Additional Texting Guidelines to Follow:
Using a phone to call 911 is still the most efficient way to reach emergency help. Texting is not always instantaneous, which is critical during a life-threatening emergency. It may take longer to dispatch emergency services in a text to a 911 situation because of the time involved, as someone must enter the text, the message must go through the network, and the 911 Telecommunicator must read the text and then text back.
Providing location information and nature of the emergency in the first text message is imperative, since the Holly Springs 9-1-1 Center will receive only an approximate location of the cell phone, and will not be able to speak with the person sending the text. Text location information is not equal to current location technology.
Text-to-911 is not available if you are roaming.
A text or data plan is required to place a text-to-911 call.
Text messages sent to 911 have the same 160-character limit as other text messages. Keep text messages brief and concise.
SMS-911 should only be used to communicate between emergency help and the texter with no pictures, video, other attachments or other recipients appended to the message.
Text abbreviations or slang should never be used so that the intent of the dialogue can be as clear as possible.
Text-to-911 cannot include more than one person. Do not send your emergency text to anyone other than 911.
Customers must be in range of cell towers in Holly Springs. If customers are outside the city limits, the message may not reach the Holly Springs 911 Center. In these cases, the customer will receive a ‘Bounce Back’ message advising them to make a voice call to 911.
The texting function should only be used for an emergency situation when calling 911 is not an option.
Call 911 only for emergency situations where immediate police, fire or EMS assistance is needed. When calling 911, be prepared to provide the address or location and a brief description of the nature of the emergency. For non-emergency situations, call (919) 557-9111. Both numbers are available 24 hours, everyday.
PLEASE, DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE!
For more information on what you need to know to text 911 please visit the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Consumer Guide at https://www.fcc.gov/…/gui…/what-you-need-know-about-text-911 and more tips can found at https://www.fcc.gov/consum…/guides/text-911-quick-facts-faqs .
Since 2004, Holly Springs has had its own call center. Calls made within Holly Springs to 911 are answered in Holly Springs, not dispatched through another call center.
