Greater Harris County Text-to-911
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GHC 9-1-1 provides the 9-1-1 communications infrastructure to connect residents of Harris and Fort Bend Counties, Texas needing emergency assistance to response agencies. Text to 9-1-1 allows sending a text message for help when unable to call due to being deaf/hard of hearing, medical emergency, or safety risk. While carriers are working to implement the service, it remains limited and voice calls are fastest. GHC 9-1-1 is working with carriers to offer texting across the region this year. When texting 9-1-1, provide location and emergency immediately and follow operator instructions.
Greater Harris County Text-to-911
- 1. Introducing text to 9-1-1 & Signing up for Local Emergency Alerts
- 3. WHAT GHC 9-1-1 IS NOT Harris County (or any other county!) City of Houston (or any other city!) The State “The Telephone Company” A Response Agency
- 4. • Communication Link between the residents needing emergency assistance and the agencies who respond to their emergency. • Provides the overall 9-1-1 communications infrastructure to deliver emergency calls to the proper 9-1-1 communications center.
- 5. Nearly 5 million citizens All jurisdictions wholly or partially within Harris and Fort Bend Counties. 49 cities 34 different primary 9-1-1 call centers 10,000 – 12,000 calls daily Over 80% from wireless callers.
- 7. o What is Text To 9-1-1 o If I can talk, why would I text o Things to remember when sending a text to 9-1-1 o Emergency Notifications
- 10. Text To 9-1-1 is a service that allows you to send a text message directly to 9-1-1 for assistance in the event you are unable to make a voice call to 9-1-1.
- 11. Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Speech Impaired community Primary means of communication is by texting If you have had a medical emergency where you cannot speak. If your safety would be compromised if you spoke out loud Active shooting, domestic violence, home invasion, abduction
- 12. 9-1-1 Industry, FCC and wireless carriers are working to provide this service! May 15, 2014 – agreement by four major wireless carriers to offer texting to 9-1-1 service. AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Tmobile
- 13. Texting to 9-1-1 is NOT available in most areas. The service has been implemented in only a few areas across the U.S. but not with all wireless carriers. 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. Voice Calls to 9-1-1 will still be the best and fastest way to reach emergency services!
- 14. GHC 9-1-1 is working with all of the wireless carriers to provide this service for the residents of Harris and Fort Bend Counties. The call centers are ready and the call takers have been trained. All four wireless carriers are anticipated to be in the GHC 9-1-1 territory this year. Verizon T-Mobile Sprint AT&T
- 15. Text to 9-1-1 will take longer than a voice call (just like texting to any other phone number). The 9-1-1 call taker needs to know your exact location and the nature of your emergency Text short simple messages Answer questions and follow instructions from the 9-1-1 call taker.
- 16. Photos and videos cannot be sent to 9-1-1 at this time. Text-to-9-1-1 cannot include more than one person. Do not send your emergency text to anyone other than 9-1-1. Do not text and drive!
- 17. Wher e are you baby? Voice calls to 9-1-1 are still the best and fastest way to reach emergency services!
- 18. Give your location and nature of emergency in the first text you send
- 19. The same texting challenges exist, just like texting to a friend, family member, or emergency services. Uncertainty whether anyone received your text. Time delay. Call If You Can Text If You Can’t
- 20. If texting to 9-1-1 is not available in your area, by your wireless carreir or is temporarily unavailable, you will receive a message indicating that texting 9-1-1 is not available and to contact 9-1-1 by other means. Text to 9-1-1 will not be available with all carriers at the same time!
- 21. TEXT
- 22. contacting 9-1-1 either by voice or by text is ONLY for emergencies
- 23. Call if you Can… Text if you Can’t
- 25. www.911.org
Editor's Notes
- #5: GHC provides the overall 9-1-1 communications infrastructure to deliver emergency calls to the proper 9-1-1 communications center.
- #9: Do you/your parents use the same television they use 10, 20 years ago? How about vehicle, VCRs, video games?
- #11: Not an app that you have to add to your phone Use the regular method that you currently use to send text messages
- #12: Estimated 22 million Americans fall into one of these categories Only way for Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Speech Impaired community to request from 9-1-1 is by using a TDD/TTY, which is antiquated technology
- #13: School shooting Abduction Home intruder Domestic violence
- #21: Wreck at Pecan and Main. As far as I know 2 people are hurt. Unknown who is at fault. No one is moving. Send an ambulance. Hope that helps. Thank you very much.