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Making a 911 Call
If you dial 911 by mistake, please stay on the line until the dispatcher answers and then just explain what happened.
Warning
If you have a VoIP phone, you may not be able to dial 911. Your phone and address information may not be available to the 911 Center. Please check with your phone service provider to ensure you are aware of any special instructions, etc. regarding your ability to access 911 in an emergency!
When you dial 911, the dispatcher automatically receives the location you are calling from and the telephone number. However, you should be prepared to verify this information.
If placing a 911 call from your cell phone, the dispatcher will not be given your exact location, but rather an estimated location. When calling 911, pull out of traffic to a safe location.
If you are calling 911 from work, remember to dial any prefixes necessary to obtain an outside line prior to dialing 911. The 911 center may only receive the location of the main switchboard and not necessarily the location of the specific phone you are using. Answer all other questions as quickly and accurately as possible.
Dispatcher Information
Be prepared to give the dispatcher the following information:
- Location or address where help is needed
- Phone number you are calling from
- Your name and who is involved
- Answer all questions as quickly and accurately as possible
- Nature of the problem and when it
occured - Follow all instructions given by the dispatcher
- Stay on the phone for as long as it is safe to do so or until the dispatcher tells you to hang up
Note: The emergency units are dispatched quickly and answering the 911 dispatcher's questions does not delay a response, but rather better prepares the respondents to handle the event.