CHESTERFIELD — Getting help in an emergency is now faster and easier for those in the Richmond region who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, can’t speak, or are in a situation where it isn’t safe to speak.
As of June 4, those who are not able to call 911 can send a text message to 911 for emergency assistance in Richmond, Chesterfield County and Henrico County. This service already is available in Colonial Heights and Hanover County.
Residents should follow these guidelines when texting 911:
Do:
• Call if you can, text if you can’t.
• Send a text message to 911 if you are deaf or hard-of-hearing, can’t speak, or it is not safe for you to speak.
• Provide the exact location of the emergency in the text message.
• If you do not receive a reply by text, or if you receive a reply that texting is not available, call 911.
Do Not:
• Do not text and drive.
• Do not send photos or videos to 911 at this time.
• Do not copy others on the message to 911. Text-to-911 cannot include more than one person.
Text-to-911 was implemented in the Richmond Capital Region as the result of a grant awarded by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency in the 2017 fiscal year.
