Texts to 911 coming soon to Portland area

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — People in need of help will soon be able to send a text message to 911.

The Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications, which operates 911, is working with seven other agencies on a program that will accept text messages.

Laura Wolfe with BOEC says there is a desperate need for 911 dispatchers in the metro area to be able to communicate with people via text message.

“The public’s expectation is that we can accept and communicate via text message,” says Wolfe.

The technology will likely be implemented in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Columbia and Clark counties. Dispatch centers in Astoria, Lake Oswego and Woodburn are also on board.

“It’s really critical for the people in the deaf, hard of hearing communities to be able to communicate, if there’s a domestic violence situation where, you know, you could have somebody that can’t call.”

The funding for all of this will come from the state’s telephone 911 tax. Each telephone line that can call 911 is already being charged 75 cents.

When fully rolled out, it will be a web based program allowing dispatchers to type back to the sender and to get a cell phone’s location.

“It’s really really important that people know if you can’t call then go ahead and text but we prefer always phone call first,” Wolfe says.

The service is not ready now so if you need help you will still need to call 911.

The texting program should be ready to go this summer.