|
Dialing 9-1-1 from a
cellular phone is a little different than from a traditional home
phone. For starters, you may not always get connected to the 9-1-1
center serving the county you are in. This is because while you may,
for example, be in Dickinson County, the cell tower your phone is
connected with could be in Osceola County. Thus, you could get a
dispatcher from another county. He or she can either transfer you to
the correct county or will take down your information and relay it
via telephone or radio.
Secondly, when you dial
9-1-1 from your cell phone, we can't get an address for you because
the phones are portable. Recent upgrades have allowed us to obtain
location data from your cell phone that will show us your
approximate location on a computer map. However, this feature
doesn't work with older cell phones. Also, being inside buildings or
within a lot of trees or other obstructions can also affect whether
or not we receive your location data. The best thing you can do is
to always know where you are at. When traveling, watch road signs
and mile posts. Know where you are in relation to local towns. Doing
so can mean a quicker response by emergency crews in the event of an
emergency.
Keep in mind that while we
have this technology in Dickinson County, not all areas of the county
have this capability. Always know your location! |
