Calling 911
Calling 911 in an Emergency
When calling 911 in an emergency:
- Remain calm and speak clearly.
- Do not scream into the Phone.
- Give the complete address where you need help.
- Include an apartment number or room number if appropriate.
- Tell the 911 dispatcher what the problem is.
- Why you need help; and what type of assistance:
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- Fire
- Police
- Answer all of the dispatcher's questions.
- They may ask you certain questions to help the police, fire, or EMS units responding to your emergency.
- Give the 911 dispatcher your name and contact information if requested.
Other Considerations When Calling 911
- Do not hang up until the 911 dispatcher tells you too. If you hang up before speaking to the 911 operator, they will call you back; and you may get a visit from a Police Officer.
- If you Dial 911 by mistake, stay on the line and say, "This is not an emergency," then explain what happened.
- Please do not call to:
- ask for general phone numbers
- ask for road conditions
- ask for weather information
- report a power outage
- Call your utility service provider regarding service outages. If your power is out, use a battery-powered radio to monitor a local radio station for important weather updates. For weather and road conditions, please refer to local weather channels. For all other inquiries, ask Google.
- If you dial 911 from your cell phone, please use extreme caution, and consider pulling over to a safe area before calling; be prepared to give the dispatcher your location-including any prominent landmarks. Some cell phones do not have GPS enabled, and therefore may not show the dispatcher your current location.