Pinellas County, FL – Residents across Pinellas County are being reminded today that they can text 911 during emergencies when calling is not possible, a feature officials say can be lifesaving in certain situations.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, while calling 911 remains the preferred method for emergency assistance, Text-to-911 is available throughout the county for residents who may be unable to speak or safely place a call.
Authorities say texting 911 may be especially critical if someone needs to remain silent for safety reasons, is deaf or hard of hearing, has a speech impairment, or is experiencing poor cellular reception during severe weather or power outages.
“Call if you can, text if you can’t,” officials emphasized in a public safety reminder shared this week.
Dispatchers in Pinellas County receive both emergency calls and texts, allowing residents to communicate with 911 operators in real time. However, law enforcement officials caution that location tracking may be less accurate with text messages compared to voice calls, making it important for texters to clearly provide their location as soon as possible.
Emergency officials also advise residents to avoid using abbreviations, slang, or emojis when texting 911 and to answer questions promptly to help responders assess the situation quickly.
Pinellas County includes cities such as St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, and Pinellas Park and is part of the Tampa Bay metro area. With hurricane season and severe weather risks impacting the region, officials say awareness of emergency communication options is especially important.
Residents are encouraged to save emergency numbers, understand when to use Text-to-911, and share the information with family members, including children and elderly relatives.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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