Frequently Asked Questions

No. The mobile device you text from requires a mobile phone number with a wireless carrier which allows the device to send and receive text messages.

No. At this time, text to 911 is only available in English.

No. Photos and video cannot be received at this time.

No. Messages sent to 911 cannot include other recipients. If you attempt to text 911 on a group text, it may not be received.

If text to 911 service is unavailable, even temporarily, you should receive a message indicating it is not available with instructions to contact 911 by other means. If you do not receive any replies from 911, try to contact 911 another way (place a voice call, use TTY/relay, try a different device or landline).

If you accidentally send a text to 911, please send a reply stating that it was a mistake and that there is no emergency.

Text to 911 location information is obtained from the cellular carrier’s location data for the purpose of routing the message to the nearest 911 center and it may not be exact enough for first responders to find you. For all 911 calls or text messages, “callers” should be prepared to provide their exact location information — including apartment, lot, building, space, unit, or suite number, or mile marker.

No. Voice calls are still the preferred method for contacting 911.

While KITTCOM processes text messages in the same manner as voice calls to 911, texts are not as efficient as voice calls. Call takers cannot hear background noise to better ascertain the situation, and there are inherent delays when sending or receiving text replies. 

Remember, call if you can, text if you can’t.

The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) helped produce these great videos:

• General Information about Text to 911 for the Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing, and Speech Disabled
• How to Text 911 for the Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing, and Speech Disabled
• Important Facts About Text to 911 for the Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing, and Speech Disabled