Introducing text to & Signing up for Local Emergency Alerts

WHAT GHC IS NOT Harris County (or any other county!) City of Houston (or any other city!) The State “The Telephone Company” A Response Agency

Communication Link between the residents needing emergency assistance and the agencies who respond to their emergency. Provides the overall communications infrastructure to deliver emergency calls to the proper communications center.

Nearly 5 million citizens All jurisdictions wholly or partially within Harris and Fort Bend Counties. 49 cities 34 different primary call centers 10,000 – 12,000 calls daily Over 80% from wireless callers.

o What is Text To o If I can talk, why would I text o Things to remember when sending a text to o Emergency Notifications

Cellular Phones

Text To is a service that allows you to send a text message directly to for assistance in the event you are unable to make a voice call to

Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Speech Impaired community Primary means of communication is by texting If you have had a medical emergency where you cannot speak. If your safety would be compromised if you spoke out loud Active shooting, domestic violence, home invasion, abduction

If your safety would be compromised if you spoke out loud

9-1-1 Industry, FCC and wireless carriers are working to provide this service! May 15, 2014 – agreement by four major wireless carriers to offer texting to service. AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Tmobile

Texting to is NOT available in most areas. The service has been implemented in only a few areas across the U.S. but not with all wireless carriers. When text-to is available in your area please remember: texting should only be used when you are unable to make a voice call to Voice Calls to will still be the best and fastest way to reach emergency services!

GHC is working with all of the wireless carriers to provide this service for the residents of Harris and Fort Bend Counties. The call centers are ready and the call takers have been trained. All four wireless carriers are anticipated to be in the GHC territory this year. Verizon T-Mobile Sprint AT&T

Text to will take longer than a voice call (just like texting to any other phone number). The call taker needs to know your exact location and the nature of your emergency Text short simple messages Answer questions and follow instructions from the call taker.

Photos and videos cannot be sent to at this time. Text-to cannot include more than one person. Do not send your emergency text to anyone other than Do not text and drive!

Wher e are you baby? Voice calls to are still the best and fastest way to reach emergency services!

Give your location and nature of emergency in the first text you send

If texting to is not available in your area, by your wireless carreir or is temporarily unavailable, you will receive a message indicating that texting is not available and to contact by other means. Text to will not be available with all carriers at the same time!

contacting either by voice or by text is ONLY for emergencies

Call if you Can… Text if you Can’t

Sonya Clauson