Everyone in the community is encouraged to consider these general safety tips in case you may ever need to call 911 for any emergency, such as:
- A life-threatening medical situation
- Crimes in progress or vehicle accidents
- Serious environmental hazards, such as fires, gas leaks or downed power lines
- Someone is actively trying to harm themselves or others
Call 911 if you can, and text 911 if you can’t
Text to 911 service is available in Watauga County, benefiting individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or in a situation where they cannot speak.
If you attempt to send a text to 911 from any location where the service is not yet available, you will receive an automatic "bounce-back" message advising you to contact 911 by another means, such as a voice call or using a telecommunications relay service such as teletypewriters (TTY) and telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDD).
Please do not call 911 for non-emergencies
An emergency is any serious situation where police, fire-rescue or emergency medical help is needed immediately, such as in any life-threatening situation. If you are unsure of whether your situation is an emergency, you can call 911. The dispatcher will help determine if you need emergency assistance or just a direct phone number to a local service provider.
Anytime you need to call 911, try to stay calm and don’t hang up
Until you are instructed that you may disconnect, stay on the line with the dispatcher.
Many dispatchers are also certified first responders, and can provide very important instructions and support to you before police, fire-rescue and EMS personnel arrive.
Accidentally call 911? Don’t hang up
Instead, inform the dispatcher that you dialed 911 accidentally and there is no emergency.
If a 911 caller does hang up, first responders will still be dispatched, creating an unnecessary deficit in available resources that could be critically needed elsewhere.