If text-to service is unavailable, even temporarily, you should receive a message indicating it is not available with instructions to contact by other means.
If you accidentally send a text to , please send a reply stating that it was a mistake and that there is no emergency. While South Sound processes text messages in the same manner as voice calls to , texts are not as efficient as voice calls.
Call takers cannot hear background noise to better ascertain the situation, and there are inherent delays when sending or receiving text replies. We also have educational information available in braille. Contact us by phone or email to request a copy: or info southsound Yes — in an emergency, and when you cannot place a voice call to , you may text in Pierce County.
To see where else in Washington text-to is available, visit the Washington State Emergency Management Division website. The mobile device you text from requires a mobile phone number with a wireless carrier which allows the device to send and receive text messages.
Type a message with the location of the emergency including city and the nature of the emergency what is happening and whether you need police, fire or medical aid. Things to remember Keep text messages brief. If a call center requests text-to service, text messaging providers must deliver the service in that area within six months. To check to see if the call center in your area supports text-to, download our list of areas supporting available service updated monthly.
But even in areas where call centers accept text-to, existing voice-based service is still the most reliable and preferred method of contact.
If you use a wireless phone or other type of mobile device, make sure to do the following in an emergency:. Like other calls, Text-to should only be used for emergencies. If the situation is not an emergency requiring immediate help, you should call the Public Safety Non-Emergency line at It connects to what's called a PSAP, a public safety answering point, which most police departments have.
We will then see a little text window pop up on our end, and it's going to text back and forth with you. They will ask you the address of your emergency and will encourage you to call if you can.
If you can't, they will ask you about your situation via text. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Although your location is usually automatically displayed to the dispatcher when you call , texting is not the same and location information is not always sent.
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Text-to typically does not work on phones that do not have an active service plan. If you have a phone that is not activated you will need to call to speak to a dispatcher.
Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0. Do not contact for anything other than legitimate emergencies. Doing so risks the lives of people who need emergency help, wastes community resources and may subject you to criminal prosecution. Related wikiHows How to. How to. Expert Interview. More References 4. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: September 16, Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times.
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