If you have an emergency and need to contact 911, some areas now allow you to text 911. Text-to-911 is free, works through short message service (SMS) with cellular carriers, and requires a text or data plan.
Select counties in the following states now have the text-to-911 option:
-Colorado
-Georgia
-Illinois
-Indiana
-Iowa
-Maine
-Maryland
-Montana
-New York
-North Carolina
-Ohio
-Pennsylvania
-South Carolina
-Texas
-Vermont
-Virginia
If you attempt to send a text to 911 where the service is not yet available, FCC rules require all wireless carriers and other text messaging providers to send an automatic “bounce-back” message that will advise you to contact emergency services by another means.
Directions:
-Enter 911 without spaces or hyphens.
-Self-identify as deaf.
-Text the reason for your emergency.
-Text your full address or cross streets.-Use complete words and sentences, not abbreviations.
-Don’t text 911 in a group chat or send photos, videos, GIFs, or emojis.
-Answer all of the operator’s questions. The operator will end the chat.
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