Lemont Residents Can Now Text 911 For Emergencies

LEMONT, IL — Lemont's dispatch center, Southwest Central Dispatch, is now offering the capability to receive and send text 911 messages from cellphones. The department said Lemont residents now have the ability to text messages to 911, although it is always better to make a phone call.

The new system, called Text-to-911, is meant to allow people who are hearing-impaired, speech-impaired or unable to talk safely on the phone connect with emergency services, according to the department.

The motto is, "Call when you can, text when you can't," and texting 911 should be thought of as a last resort, the department said.

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