The
Black Hawk Consolidated Public Safety Communications Center In Black Hawk Iowa can receive now
text messages from select wireless subscribers in the county.
The call
center successfully completed the text trial this past June and is now
the first 9-1-1 Call Center in the country able to receive text messages
directly into 9-1-1. This groundbreaking effort allows those individuals
with speech and hearing impairments, or callers otherwise unable to
place a voice call, to use text messaging to communicate directly with a
9-1-1 telecommunicator in an emergency.
"We are pleased that our county has become the first in the nation to
successfully deploy text to 9-1-1," said Chief Thomas Jennings,
chairman, Black Hawk 9-1-1 Board. "This solution not only helps better
protect our speech and hearing impaired citizens but it proves how
important it is for public safety to support all forms of communication."
"The state of Iowa has a long history of pioneering advancements in
9-1-1 technology as a way to enhance the safety of all of our citizens,"
said David Miller, administrator, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency
Management Division. "We are proud to be part of this initiative to
assist the speech and hearing impaired."
Their News Release Warns: It is important to note that this solution is currently only available
to select wireless subscribers in Black Hawk County. Please remember
that a voice call remains the best way to contact 9-1-1. Texting to
9-1-1 should only be used in situations where a voice call is not
possible.