Text-to-911 service begins in Henrico

Reaching out for assistance during emergencies is now easier and faster for some local residents.

As of June 4, residents of Henrico, Chesterfield and Richmond may send text messages to 911 if they are not able to make a phone call.

The text-to-911 service is designed for those who are in situations where it may be dangerous to speak and for those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

If you are not in one of these situations, phone calls still are the best way to contact 9-1-1 in the case of an emergency, according to law enforcement officials.

“We encourage residents to call 911 when they can and to text when they can’t,” said Stephen Willoughby, director and chief of Richmond’s Department of Emergency Communications.

The service has been running in Hanover County since 2015, and Hanover’s Emergency Communications Center Manager, Cheryl Buchanan, said that outcomes have been successful.

All Henrico communication officers reviewed online training material and had one-on-one training for the software prior to the launch of the service here, said Henrico Police spokesman Lt. Chris Garrett.

“Once a text is received, the 911 dispatcher’s console will open with a special text conversation panel,” Garrett said. “The dispatcher will then be able to communicate back and forth by sending text with the caller.”

Garrett also stressed how important it is for texters to be as specific as possible with their location.

To send a text:

• Enter “911” in the “To” or “Recipient” box of the message.

• In the body of the message type in what you need and your specific location.

• Ask for police, fire or an ambulance.

• Send short messages.

• Do not use any slang or abbreviations.