Jefferson County Emergency Communications Center Announces New Text to 911 Service
Edwina Benites-LM, County Administrator
Email: Edwina.C.BenitesLM@jeffcowv.gov
Charles Town, WV (September 17, 2026) – Jefferson County now offers Text to 911, giving another way to reach a 911 dispatcher.
In the same way a 911 call connects you with a dispatcher, Text to 911 connects you directly with a 911 dispatcher through text messaging. To start a Text to 911 conversation, open a new text message and send it to 911.
A dispatcher will quickly respond and ask for your location, the nature of the emergency, and any other information needed to send the appropriate help.
The Jefferson County Emergency Communications Center recently launched the service to expand its emergency communication capabilities, particularly for individuals who are unable to speak, have difficulty communicating by voice, or are in a situation where speaking could put them at risk.
Text to 911 also includes multi-language text translation, allowing individuals who do not speak English to communicate with 911 dispatchers.
Text to 911 increases the level of service Jefferson County can provide and helps ensure that emergency assistance is on the way even when a voice call is difficult or not possible.
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