Pa. Emergency Management Agency Announces New Way to Call for Help: Texting 911

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) has announced that residents can now text 911 in every county in Pennsylvania. 

According to PEMA, texting 911 is as simple as texting a friend. 

Cell phone users can type 911 in the field and explain what is happening in the text. PEMA says its important to include your location in the message. 

PEMA says the best advice is to call if you can, but text if you can't. Calling provides background sounds and context clues to aid operators and emergency responders. 

Texting 911 is ideal if: 

• The caller is deaf or hard of hearing
• The caller has a speech disability 
• It isn't safe to call 911 
• The caller is having a medical emergency and cannot talk on the phone

More information on the new feature can be found on PEMA's website.