Text to 9-1-1

TEXT TO 9-1-1

Now Available in 10 East Texas Counties

East Texas Council of Governments’ Regional 9-1-1 Program is pleased to announce the availability of Text to 9-1-1 service in Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Gregg, Marion, Panola, Rains, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood Counties. Text to 9-1-1 is a service that allows citizens to send a text message directly to 9-1-1 for assistance in the event they are unable to make a voice call.

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Simple Steps to Texting 9-1-1
in an Emergency

Enter the numbers 911 in the “To” field.
The first text you send should be a short explanation of emergency with the location of that emergency and the type of help needed.
Push the “Send” button to send the text to 9-1-1.
The 9-1-1 call-taker will text back any specific questions that will help them in getting you the emergency response quickly. Please make sure to answer all questions.
Remember to text in simple language and do not use abbreviations or emojis.

Other Important Talking Points on Text to 9-1-1

Calling 9-1-1 is the best way to get emergency help quickly, if it is unsafe to call or you are deaf or hard of hearing, then please text-to-911. Keep in mind, this can slow down response time to your emergency.
Location information of texts are inaccurate, so please be aware of your surroundings and know your location when reaching out to 9-1-1 for help.
Phone users must have texting plan with their service provider in order to text 9-1-1.
At this time, pictures and videos cannot be shared via text with 9-1-1 call-takers. As Next Generation 9-1-1 progresses, this ability will be available in the future though the date is uncertain at this time.
Please do not text and drive. If you need to contact 9-1-1, please park your vehicle in a safe location first.