Most people in Eugene and Lane County can now text 911 for emergency services.
For people with speech or hearing impediments -or for situations where it could be dangerous to be heard aloud - the text to 911 service has now been activated for the Central and South Lane County Communications Centers.
911 Program Manager Rob Poirier says dispatchers still prefer calls over text.
“It’s a much more cumbersome conversation and it takes a little longer to process those calls. So if you can call, please by all means, we want you to call 911," explained Poirier.
"But if you can’t, this is another way to get a hold of us.”
The text to 911 service is available to wireless customers when they’re within range of a cell tower. It can’t do group chats, or accept videos or photos.
Western Lane 911 – which serves the Florence area – does not have texting capabilities.
Copyright 2021, KLCC.
