Ten years after Text-to-911 rollout, what Denton residents should know

October marks 10 years since the Denco Area 9-1-1 District announced that residents could contact emergency dispatchers by text. The district’s October 3, 2016, release described the service as another way to seek help when a voice call was not possible.

Denco’s current guidance continues to favor calling 911 when possible. Texting provides an option when someone cannot speak or speaking would create danger, and it improves access for people with hearing or speech disabilities.

To text an emergency, start a new message addressed to 911. Give the location and a brief description of what is happening in the first message. Use plain language and be ready to answer the dispatcher’s questions.

Send the message only to 911, without adding other recipients. Do not attach photos or videos. Denco’s FAQ says a dispatcher may separately request media through an upload link.

The district cautions that texting is unavailable in some places and can encounter wireless-service limitations. If no reply arrives, its guidance is to try another way of reaching 911.