Text-to-911 program now available for emergencies

Bright red and white fliers are being posted around Mineral County as the Sheriff’s Department has implemented a new Text-to-911 program. The posters read “Call if you can, Text if you can’t”.

“It’s for the hearing-impaired and for people who are not able to make a phone call,” explained Mineral County Dispatcher Roni Phillips. “For example, if someone was a kidnapped victim or there was a partner-family member assault that’s going on and it’s easier to text to 911. Where the other person can’t hear it, they can let us know that it’s an emergency.”

The service is not to be used if the person can make a phone call, “if you’re able to make a phone call then you call us and so we can hear you and talk to you and get it done,” said Phillips.

People need to pull over when driving whether they make a 911 phone call or text. It’s safer and they also don’t lose the signal, which Phillips said often happens if someone is driving. Areas that calls don’t get picked up are Fish Creek and near mile marker 2 but otherwise 911 calls are picked up by any of the county’s cell towers.

The department has been testing the equipment for the past month and the program was implemented in early July, however, no calls have been taken as of last week. Costs for the program came from the Montana 911 Fund which included a one-time fee of approximately $8,000. The Sheriff’s Department receives funds each year from 911 to pay for emergency response equipment.

The Text-to-911 posters include instructions on what to tell the Dispatchers which includes reporting the location of the emergency and information about the emergency. When texting people should not use emojis or slang and they cannot send attachments. Also, out-of-service phones can call 911 but they cannot text 911. People who have questions regarding this new service can call the Sheriff’s Department at 406-822-3555.