- Home
- Government
- Public Safety
- 911/Public Safety
- 9-1-1
- Call 911 If You Can, Text If You Can't
Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Wireless customers across all of Southwestern PA can send a short message service (SMS) text message to a 9-1-1 operator from a mobile phone or device if there is a situation that does not allow them to call.
This allows 9-1-1 access to people with hearing/speech impairments, as well as those in situations where it is unsafe to speak on the phone.
When using this option be sure not to send audio recordings, videos, or pictures, as these multimedia files cannot be received by 9-1-1 operators at this time.
Non-emergency calls still should be communicated to emergency services through non-emergency phone lines.
Listen to our ReadyWestmoreland podcast giving an inside look at the launch of Text to 9-1-1 in Westmoreland County
TEXT to 9-1-1 is easy! Simply send a short, but detailed, text message of the location of your emergency, your municipality, and the reason for the emergency message to 9-1-1 using this step-by-step guide:
In the “To” field enter the numbers 911
As with all text messages, 9-1-1 texts may take longer to be received, may be received out of order, or may not be received at all. Therefore, it may take slightly longer to dispatch emergency services originating from a text. Call if You Can, Text if You Can’t!
Information provided is courtesy of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Emergency Response Regional Task Force. Follow us on Facebook at Southwestern PA Emergency Response Group @Region13swpa.