Golden State Today

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office is reminding the community of the option to send text messages to 9-1-1 during emergencies when voice calls are not possible or safe. This service follows the guideline, "Call if you can — text if you can't," and is particularly useful for individuals who are speech-impaired, hard of hearing, deaf, or in situations where a voice call could compromise their safety.

Susan Farley, Manager of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Public Safety Dispatch Center, noted an additional benefit: "We have observed that text to 9-1-1 often remains functional during widespread voice cell phone outages." Despite this advantage, community members are encouraged to make a voice call if feasible and reserve texting for instances when it is not an option.

When using the text-to-9-1-1 service, providing the exact location of the emergency is crucial. Unlike voice calls, texts do not automatically convey location information to dispatchers. "The precise location is the most helpful information for us," said Farley. "Occasionally, texts may be routed to the wrong agency, but we can transfer the details to the appropriate agency."

There are several guidelines for using text-to-9-1-1 effectively:

- Use only for emergencies; it is not intended for general inquiries.

- Phones must have an active data or text plan.

- Texts will not be delivered when roaming.

- Use plain language without abbreviations, emojis, photos, or videos.

- Messages can be translated manually; automated translation is currently unavailable.

- Texts cannot be sent to multiple recipients simultaneously.

All call takers and dispatchers at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office are trained and equipped to respond to 9-1-1 texts. The office emphasizes this additional method for reaching help during emergencies. For non-emergencies, contact options include calling 805-683-2724 for the dispatch center or 805-681-4100 for Sheriff's Headquarters. Texting services are unavailable for non-emergency situations.