Telephone Tips During Emergencies
How to report Emergencies
- Speak slowly and clearly.
- State your name, location of the emergency and telephone number.
- Provide as much information as possible:
- Who you are
- Who is involved
- What is wrong
- Where you are
- Stay on the telephone and follow any instructions that the 911
dispatcher (emergency operator) may give.
Home and Business Telephones
- For regular telephone lines, sometimes referred to as "land lines,"
9-1-1 calls are handled by local 911 Centers and provide the
dispatcher with location information of the caller.
If the power is out, cordless telephones will not work. Keep a backup
telephone available to plug directly into the phone jack.
Following a disaster, even when regular telephone services resumes, out-of-state
calls will be easier to place and will help to minimize the
demand on local phone service lines.
Pay Telephones
- Calling 9-1-1 from a pay phone is free. If service is interrupted, pay phones will be restored before
residential service.
Cellular Telephones
- In California, when 9-1-1 calls are placed from cellular phones, they are routed to the
California Highway Patrol (CHP) 911 Center. Delays can result because
calls are answered by out-of-area CHP dispatchers.
Unlike regular telephone lines, cellular phones do not provide
dispatchers with important location information of the caller.
If reporting an emergency from a cellular phone, provide the 911
dispatcher with as much location information as possible, including city name,
street names, direction you are traveling (i.e., north or south) and
nearby landmarks (i.e., a shopping center or restaurant).
Local Emergency Contacts in Santa Clara County
- Dial 9-1-1 to report emergencies from regular telephone lines. When
using a cellular telephone, if you are able, dial the direct, local
seven digit number to be connected to the 911 Center in your area.
The seven digit emergency phone number for each 911 Center in Santa
Clara County is listed below. Store this seven digit number in your cell
phone should you need to call during an emergency.
| Campbell |
408.378.8161 |
| Cupertino |
408.299.3233 |
| Gilroy |
408.842.0191 |
| Los Altos |
650.947.2779 |
| Los Altos Hills |
408.299.3233 |
| Los Gatos |
408.354.8600 |
| Milpitas (Police) |
408.263.1212 |
| Milpitas (Fire) |
408.998.7212 |
| Monte Sereno |
408.354.8600 |
| Morgan Hill |
408.779.2101 |
| Mountain View |
650.968.1661 |
| Palo Alto (Police) |
650.321.4433 |
| Palo Alto (Fire) |
650.321.2231 |
| San Jose |
408.794.6950 |
| San Martin |
408.299.3233 |
| Santa Clara (Police) |
408.296.2236 |
| Santa Clara (Fire) |
408.296.1515 |
| Saratoga |
408.299.3233 |
| Sunnyvale |
408.736.6244 |
| Unincorporated |
408.299.3233 |
For International emergency telephone numbers to use when travelling outside the US, and
Hazmat Incident telephone numbers, see the International "911"
and Emergency Numbers page.
You may also download the "Telephone Tips During Emergencies" brochure from the
Forms page.
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