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Cameron County 9-1-1 Cameron County 9-1-1
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What is 911 & Enhanced 911

Home 911 Facts What is 911 & Enhanced 911

What is 9-1-1?

9-1-1 is the universal emergency telephone number designed to give citizens an easy-to-remember number to use when summoning police, fire, or emergency medical services for emergencies.

What is Enhanced 9-1-1?

Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) is a single, easy-to-remember number used when reporting emergencies to fire, police and emergency medical service providers. The E9-1-1 system, operational in the Cameron County 9-1-1 District, is designed to automatically route any 9-1-1 call, placed from a telephone instrument (including wireless) within the district’s geographical boundaries, to the proper public safety answering point (PSAP) responsible for dispatching emergency services to the caller.

How do I use 9-1-1?

When you have an emergency, dial the three-digit number and do the following:

  • Stay calm and speak clearly.
  • State the emergency.
  • State the location of the emergency, your name and the phone number from which you are calling.

REMEMBER: Dial 9-1-1 when seconds count…

  • It is easy to remember in moments of stress.
  • It is quicker to dial than a seven-digit number.
  • It is the number to use in summoning the police, fire, or emergency medical services.
  • If you cannot speak, the telecommunicator can trace your call through the 9-1-1 system features.

When To Call 9-1-1

9-1-1 is reserved for emergency situations only. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police/sheriff, the fire department or an ambulance. If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 9-1-1. It’s better to be safe and let the 9-1-1 call taker determine if you need emergency assistance. However, callers should still use sound judgment when trying to determine the difference between an “emergency” and a “non-emergency.”

A person should not call 9-1-1 to ask for directions, report a lost pet or complain about a noisy neighbor. People who call 9-1-1 as a joke or a nuisance can be subject to fines and legal action.

Do not call 9-1-1:

  • For information
  • For directory assistance
  • When you’re bored and just want to talk
  • For paying tickets
  • For your pet
  • As a prank

If you call 9-1-1 by mistake, do not hang up. Tell the call taker what happened so they know there really isn’t an emergency.

What about 9-1-1 prank calls?

It’s a prank call when someone calls 9-1-1 for a joke, or calls 9-1-1 and hangs up. Prank calls not only waste time and money, but can also be dangerous. If 9-1-1 lines or call takers are busy with prank calls, someone with a real emergency may not be able to get the help they need. In most places, it’s against the law to make prank 9-1-1 calls.

Can I use 9-1-1 from a pay phone?

Yes, when the pay phone has a dial tone. Simply dial 9-1-1 and wait for a trained telecommunicator to answer your call.

Can the hearing and speech-impaired use 9-1-1?

Yes, in communities where 9-1-1 is available, a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) is connected to 9-1-1. Simply dial 9-1-1 and press the space bar for response.

Does a person need to speak English when calling 9-1-1?

No. It is common for 9-1-1 centers to have bilingual 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers; however if there is not one available, the 9-1-1 call taker can add on an interpreter through the use of a language line service, which offers translations in more than 140 languages.

When there's a local emergency... will you know?

SIgn up for CodeRED , a FREE service provided by Cameron County Emergency Communication District that will call your cell
phone and send you an email alert informing you of a local emergency with the instructions to follow.

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