POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County is the second county in the Hudson Valley to launch Text-to-911. Rockland County recently began the service.
The text service is available for persons who cannot safely call 911 in an emergency or who have a hearing or speech impairment.
“This advancement in our emergency response services provides a critical tool for those who have a hearing or speech impairment or may be facing a situation where speaking a loud jeopardizes their safety,” said Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro. “While dialing 911 is the preferred way to request help that may not be always be the possible and this new service can be a life-saving option.”
Officials said that while Text-to-911 gives residents the ability to reach the Dutchess County 911 communication center by text messages, calling 911 is the recommended means of communicating with a public safety dispatcher. It is faster that texting and allows the dispatcher the ability to quickly gather critical information about the emergency and provide necessary instruction.
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