People who live in Denton County and Carrollton can now text their emergency to 911.
DENCO Area 911 just brought a new system online that allows dispatchers to receive text messages directly on their screens in the various emergency communications centers within the agency's jurisdiction.
"This is the beginning of the next generation for 911 services," DENCO Area 911 executive director Mark Payne said.
Payne said it has taken two years to bring this technology to the area because the backbone of the previous system was based on technology from the 1950s and 1960s, as is the case at many emergency communications centers across the country.
Payne advised anyone who intends to text 911 that there are some guidelines to consider:
- Text the digits 911
- In the first message, send the location and type of emergency
- Avoid the use of slang, acronyms or abbreviations
- Be prepared to provide the dispatcher with additional information
- Follow the dispatcher's instructions
In addition, Payne added, a voice call is still the preferred method of communicating an emergency.
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"Call if you can, text if you can't," Payne said.
