NEW MARTINSVILLE, W.Va. — Wetzel County 911 has announced that its new Text-to-911 service is now live, giving residents an additional way to reach emergency services when calling may not be possible.
The feature allows anyone experiencing an emergency to send a text message directly to 911. Officials say the service is particularly important in situations where speaking out loud could be dangerous, or when individuals are unable to make a voice call due to medical or technical reasons.
“We are pleased to let everyone know that Wetzel County 911 is now able to receive text messages in an emergency,” the center said in a statement. “This option is available for those times and cases where making a voice call is difficult. Now, you can just send a text.”
Emergency officials still encourage residents to call 911 whenever possible, since voice calls provide dispatchers with more information and allow for quicker communication. However, they emphasize that text messaging can be a lifesaving tool when a call can’t be made.
Residents are reminded to include their location and the nature of the emergency in the first text they send.
