By and | This piece originally appeared on KMOV First Alert 4
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4)—St. Louis County has launched a new texting service to help keep families safe.
The text 911 service is now available in the county. Those needing to use it should put “911″ as the recipient and include the details regarding the message in the text message. This comes three years after the rollout of major updates to the county’s 911 dispatch center. The county said this will eliminate barriers for people who are hearing impaired, unable to speak or not in a situation where they can safely call 911.
“Call when you can and text when you can’t,” Director of emergency communications commission Mike Clouse said. St. Louis County has 12 dispatch centers and all of them can now receive 911 texting. Clouse said “you type 911 in the recipient field and then say where you are and what the emergency is.” The county communications director Veronica Clayborn said dispatchers have a list of follow up questions to ask. “Any information that will aid the officer in responding. If there are any weapons involved. If there are any injuries,” Clayborn said. When you text 911 you are asked not to send photos, videos or emojis. The county is also asking people to use simple, direct language and no abbreviations or slang. St. Louis County is still encouraging people to call if they can because it’s faster. Clayborn said the average call duration is two minutes for a voice call and six minutes over text.
St. Louis County joins Jefferson, St. Charles, and Warren counties as the only counties on the Missouri side of our area to have this service. Text to 911 launched in St. Charles county in 2017. We asked for the comparison between calls and texts to 911 in 2024 and so far this year. In 2024 St. Charles County got 128,602 calls to 911 and 1,093 texts. On the Illinois side, a new law went into effect last summer mandating text-to-911 capabilities statewide.
Samantha Wayant with the YWCA works with survivors of domestic and sexual assault and called this an added tool to their toolbox. “It’s not always safe for folks to reach out in traditional ways so to be able to have that option to seek safety is a wonderful option to see here in St. Louis County,” Wayant said. Wayant said safety planning is key for the people they serve and advocates will be able to add this into the options people have if they need help. “If I’m in the car with somebody, if I am in the same room for somebody but I am needing to seek help, I am needing immediate assistance, having those different options,” Wayant said.
When it comes to those domestic situations, St. Louis County Police Chief Kenneth Gregory said knowing someone texted 911 will change officers approach. “That’s going to put us more on the defense when we get a call like that and dispatch has told us this was a text from a spouse hiding in a closet or feel in danger with their kids or someone has a gun on them or whatever it may be, it will put us on a defensive approach at that location,” Chief Gregory said. There is a 24/7 help line with the YWCA. You can call them at 314-531-7273.
The text to 911 system is funded by the 911 sales tax approved by St. Louis County voters in 2009. First Alert 4 asked why it took so long for the system to be implemented and were told that funds also went to revamping the 911 system, updating outdoor weather sirens and other emergency services upgrades.
ABOUT YWCA:
YWCA Metro St. Louis is the region’s leading advocate for the safety, security and stability of women and children, serving more than 10,000 women and families annually. The mission of YWCA is eliminating racism and empowering women. YWCA offers crisis services and rapid re-housing for victims of sexual and domestic violence; services for pregnant women, Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education; career readiness and economic empowerment services for all clients; and racial justice educational programs.