Anyone experiencing an emergency in Cuyahoga County can now Text 911. The program began on July 1. Although it is recommended to Call 911, in some cases, this additional option is now available. Cuyahoga is now one of a handful of counties in Ohio that offer this service.
When calling 911 from a land line, the call goes directly to the Southwest Emergency Dispatch Center, which North Royalton is a part of. If calling 911 on a cell phone, or now texting 911 in North Royalton, the call will go to the Cuyahoga Emergency Communications System (CECOMS), where the dispatch will determine the location of the emergency and relay the information to the Southwest Emergency Dispatch Center, if in North Royalton, according to North Royalton Safety Director, Bruce Campbell.
“CECOMS is a 24-Hour, 7-Day a week, public safety communication system that provides emergency dispatch services, 911 call answering, Emergency Alert System broadcasts and other communications services,” according to officials at the Cuyahoga County Public Safety and Justice Services. “Empowered by Federal and State regulations and advisory support from emergency boards and committees, the Division serves all citizens by the coordination of emergency services including 911, hazardous materials, disaster planning, and public education to maintain a healthy and safe environment through the efficient and effective application of resources and technology. “
Campbell said that the new option is a good one. “In this modern age, everyone is so attached to their phone. This is another convenient way for folks to get help, especially for those who are hearing impaired or those who find themselves in a situation where they can’t talk. They can text 911.” It has been reported that there are more than 25,000 people in Cuyahoga County who are hearing impaired.
For those who need to text, it is imperative that they provide the details of their precise location, as well as the information pertaining to the nature of the emergency.
The Federal Communications Commission requires all cell phone service providers to deliver emergency texts to the corresponding dispatch center. It publishes a monthly list of all call centers that support texting to 911. For those who try to send a 911 text in an area where the service is not available, an automatic message will be sent to the texter to call 911.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer