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.

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

9. Cellular
Phones

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

26. Sonya Clauson
sonya@911.org