Do not hang up! Remain on the line (even if you are unsure at first if the call went through) and tell the Telecommunicator that the call was a mistake. If you hang up prior to your misdialed 9-1-1 call being answered, the call taker must then send law enforcement and attempt to call you back. This takes up precious time that the call taker could use to answer another call that may be an actual emergency. A common misconception is that you will get "in trouble" for accidentally dialing 9-1-1. This is simply not true! Accidents happen. We understand!
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Random FAQs
Look for landmarks, large buildings, street signs or paperwork nearby that may contain address information. Think back to the main street or highway you were near when your emergency occurred. If others are around, ask them where you are. Do not solely rely on your cell phone location to tell 9-1-1 where you are!
The Telecommunicators answers a 9-1-1 call with the question "9-1-1, where is your emergency?" The address or specific location is the most critical piece of information we can gather. If we do not have a location of the problem, how can we send help?
Public Safety Telecommunicators ask questions based on protocols that help determine what's wrong and how many responders need to go. The questions that are asked are to protect the public and the first responders. Remember, the Public Safety Telecommunicators work on a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system and while they are questioning you, they are also entering the information for a Telecommunicator who is actually the one sending the first responders to you. By answering questions concerning medical conditions or suspect information, you may be able to provide the information needed to get the best response possible.
No, as with correspondence, change when it is time to renew (driver’s license, vehicle tag) or re-order (checks). A deed has a legal description of the property in question and therefore a 9-1-1 address does not effect that document in any way.
9-1-1 needs to have a locatable address for every structure that could potentially call 9-1-1. Even if you receive mail at a Post Office Box or from another location you must still have a 9-1-1 address so you can be located in an emergency. Your 9-1-1 address is also used for package delivery services.
A private drive is any road, path or driveway which serves 3 or more addressable structures and is not maintained by a governmental entity or agency through the use of public funds.
