You'll soon be able to text emergencies to 911

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- You'll soon be able to text 911 for help in the event of an emergency.

The Greater Harris County 911 emergency network is phasing in text-to-911 service. While calling 911 is still the quickest way to get help, texting 911 is only recommended for those who aren't able to speak.

The hearing/speech-impaired community has long asked for a more accessible way to contact 911. Outdated TTY devices and relay systems that require a third-party link between dispatchers and callers unable to communicate by voice have been the only links to 911, until today.

The service is now operational at the Greater Harris County 911 call centers, which includes Fort Bend County and nearly 50 municipalities. It is now the largest metro area in the country to provide the service.

For Paskie Monbroue, it represents peace of mind. Her 7-year-old daughter has double cochlear implants which are removed at night. That means she couldn't communicate with 911 in the event of an emergency.

"That's a great opportunity for her," Monbroue says.

The downside is that texts are necessarily received in order, may take longer to receive, and dispatchers can't hear background noise, which is often critical in responding to a call.

That's why the message is "Call if you can, Text if you can't."

The service is being phased in with Verizon and T-Mobile first. Only customers of these two carriers can text-to-911 in an emergency. ATT and Sprint are expected to be part of the system by the end of the year.

Emergency officials are reminding people this system is only for emergencies. They warn those who abuse it can be located and it is a crime to abuse 911. It's a crime that they promise to prosecute.