News

Dispatch center launches Text 911

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 18, 2015

The Henderson County Sheriff's Office now has the ability to provide residents and visitors with Text to 9-1-1, a program that allows people to send text messages to emergency services as an alternative to placing a phone call.

Significant benefits of this service include accessibility for members of the community who are hard of hearing, deaf, or speech-impaired. Text to 9-1-1 can also aid in situations when a crime is in progress, a caller is facing domestic abuse, or a caller's injury is making speech impossible.

"We are excited to provide the public with this potentially lifesaving service," says Communications Director Lisha Stanley. "However, we are encouraging everyone who has an emergency to call if you can, only text when you can't. A phone call to our 9-1-1 center will allow for a quicker response time."

Emergency texts to 9-1-1 do not receive priority on the wireless network. This means emergency texts are subjected to the same service speeds or delays as any other text message. Dialing 9-1-1 and speaking in real time with a telecommunicator is always preferable.

Stanley provided the following instructions if calling 9-1-1 is not an option: The numbers "911" should be entered in the "To" field and the message should be brief and contain the location of the emergency and the type of help needed. A text or data plan is required to place a text to 9-1-1. Messages are limited to 160 characters and photo/video cannot be sent at this time, although that may change as the technology becomes available. And as always, do not text and drive.

The implementation of this program coincides with the upgrade and relocation of the 9-1-1 Center. The Communications Division received a $3.6 million grant that allowed them to relocate the Henderson County E-911 Center to the Henderson County Law Enforcement Center and replace all outdated equipment with the latest technology.

"We are a Sheriff's Office that takes great pride in our responsiveness to our community," says Sheriff Charles McDonald. "Adopting the Text to 9-1-1 program is another way for our Sheriff's Office to provide our residents with the highest quality of service when they experience an emergency."