# Texting 911 is a thing **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 18, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-911-is-a-thing/991750 "2023-10-18T13:19:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-911-is-a-thing/991750/1 "2023-10-18T13:19:19Z")
Received an announcement this morning that my counties 911 system can now respond to texts. Enter 911 in the To field, enter your message and press Send. Wait for the dispatcher to respond. This is new to me. Has anyone heard of this before? What do you think? Perfect if you’re hiding in the closet and cant talk I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-911-is-a-thing/991750/2 "2023-10-18T13:22:31Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Perfect if you’re hiding in the closet and cant talk I suppose. Or deaf. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-911-is-a-thing/991750/3 "2023-10-18T13:23:00Z")
Or have poor cell reception ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-911-is-a-thing/991750/4 "2023-10-18T13:23:09Z")
Yes, of course ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-911-is-a-thing/991750/5 "2023-10-18T14:33:41Z")
If your 911 supports this (mine does), scroll to the bottom and click on _Find Services in Your Area_ > **[Smart911](https://smart911.com/)** > > This service helps 9-1-1 protect your family by providing more information to first responders. You should sign up too, it is free! you should sign up. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-911-is-a-thing/991750/6 "2023-10-18T15:09:28Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > f your 911 supports this Interesting. I’ll ask about this feature. They didn’t mention it, just that you could text them, but I’ll see if they are aware of it. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-911-is-a-thing/991750/7 "2023-10-18T15:15:17Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > If your 911 supports this (mine does), scroll to the bottom and click on _Find Services in Your Area_ Not available in my zip code. 🙁 Great idea though. I can definitely imagine scenarios where this would be important. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-911-is-a-thing/991750/8 "2023-10-18T15:51:53Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > > > If your 911 supports this (mine does), scroll to the bottom and click on _Find Services in Your Area_ > > Not available in my zip code. 🙁 > > Great idea though. No, it’s a horrible idea unless it’s universal. Imagine being somewhere other than home, a friends house, work, restaurant, hotel, etc & attempting it except that locality doesn’t participate; you desperately need the cops, & they ain’t comin’ ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-911-is-a-thing/991750/9 "2023-10-18T15:58:45Z")
AFAIK texting 911 is (supposed to be) for when you absolutely positively **cannot** call, so if the locality doesn’t participate, that sucks for you, but you were already screwed since you absolutely positively could not call. And if you’re in an area where it doesn’t work, the provider is [required to reply](https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/what-you-need-know-about-text-911) with a text letting you know. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texting-911-is-a-thing/991750/10 "2023-10-18T16:34:58Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > No, it’s a horrible idea unless it’s universal. Certainly _better_, if universal, but also a potential lifesaver in areas where it is available for those trapped in situations where they can’t make any sound. > [@Spiderman](#): > > …you desperately need the cops, & they ain’t comin’ You’ll know If they didn’t get the message if you don’t get some kind of reply–\> > [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > …the provider is [required to reply](https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/what-you-need-know-about-text-911) with a text letting you know. Just like if you called 911 and got no answer or didn’t get through… you’d know help was not on the way.