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.

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.

Calling 9-1-1 from a pay phone is free. If service is interrupted, pay phones will be restored before residential service.

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).

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.

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.