911 Communication Center

When Should I Call 911? 

Any situation involving serious threat to life or property that is occuring right now! If you can't talk, you can text 911. 

Emergencies might include, but are not limited to: 

• Serious medical problems
• Severe bleeding
• Difficulty breathing 
• Any type of fire, or where smoke and flames are seen 
• Any situation where life or property is in immediate danger 

If you are not sure if something is an emergency, dial 911 and we will help you. 

What About Non-Emergencies? 

406-457-8866 is the best option for non-emergency situations or those that are not happening right now. 

Public Safety Telecommunicators must prioritize calls to help those in life-threatening situations first, and sometimes that means less emergent calls wait a little longer. 

If there is a power outage in your area contact your utility company as the 911 Communication Center does not know if there is a power outage in the area. 

If You Call 911 By Mistake?

Do not hang up! Stay on the line, you are not in trouble! New technology means that phones, watches, and other smart devices regularly call 911 when the user doesn't intend for them to. Answer the questions provided by the Public Safety Telecommunicator, these are intended to verify it was an accident and that you are safe. 

What Will They Ask? 

• Where is the emergency (exact address, cross streets, landmarks)? 
• What is happening? 
• What is your name and phone number? 
• If there is criminal activity, what are suspect and vehicle descriptions? Are there any weapons involved? 
• If there is a medical emergency, what are the symptoms or injuries of the person? 
• If there is a fire emergency, what is on fire, and what else is threatened (structures, vehicles, etc.)? 

Let the Public Safety Telecommunicator ask you the questions. They are specially trained and each question has a reason for being asked. Some questions may be asked for than once to clarify or verify information. As soon as the Public Safety Telecommunicator gets enough information the call is dispatched. While this is occuring, you may be asked additional questions or given instructions so rest assured that staying on the phone does not delay dispatch. Instructing the Public Safety Telecommunicator to "hurry up," "get them here now," or yelling profanities does nothing to make responders arrive any faster. 

What If I Don't Have Cell Service? 

Under federal regulations any working cell phone can call 911 regardless if you ran out of minutes or you aren't subscribed to a particular cellular provider. This means that your old phone that you gave your child to play with can still dial 911 if it is turned on.

Voice calling is always preferred but if you are in an area where cell service is limited a text message to 911 may go through versus a phone call to 911. 

Text-to-911 allows you to send a text message to 911 from your mobile phone or device in Lewis and Clark County. Using text-to-911 in an emergency might be helpful if you are hearing or speech impaired, or if making a voice call to 911 is dangerous or not possible. Text messages are processed with the same procedures and priority as voice calls. 

When to Use Text-to-911

The following are examples of when you can use text-to-911:

• Hearing or speech impaired
• Unable to speak while a crime is in progress
• In a situation where it is unsafe to speak 
• In a situation where speaking may cause harm
• Unable to reach 911 by calling

911 may ask if they can call you, or if you can call 911. If you are not able to please let them know immediately. 

How to Use Text-to-911

If you are sending a text to 911 enter 911 in the phone number or recipient field of your text message. Below are some guidelines for using text-to-911: 

• Always include the location, a brief description of the emergency and the type of help (law enforcement, fire, or EMS) that is needed
• Stay with your phone and be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from 911
• Be aware of auto correct especially when providing a location
• Do not assume that your text message has been received until you receive a response from 911 
• Text in simple words - no abbreviations, emojis, slang, etc. 
• Keep text messages short and concise
• Silence your phone and disable vibrate and light notifications if staying quiet or hidden is important for your safety

Bounce-Back Messages

If you attempt to send a 911 text message and the service is not available, you will receive an automatic "bounce-back" message advising you that text to 911 is not available in your area and to contact emergency services via phone.

Limitations and Considerations of Text-to-911

• The FCC Text-to-911 rules do not apply to text messaging apps. If you are utilizing a text messaging app that only supports texts with other app users or texting via social media they are not required to support text-to-911. 
• Location can be less accurate with a text message to 911 than a call to 911. 
• Texts to 911 may not be received if you are outside Lewis & Clark County or along its borders. 

 The Helena-Lewis & Clark County 911 Communication Center provides, at no cost to residents,utilizes the RAVE Alert/Smart911 system to send mass emergency alerts via text message, phone call, email, and social media posts. 

RAVE Alert and Smart911 are two different systems that are integrated to work with each other, but they do serve different purposes. RAVE Alert is Lewis & Clark county's official emergency alert notification system. Smart911 is an enhanced public safety app that allows users to create a safety profile with vital information, such as home address, phone number, special needs, and so much more that can be utilized by responders in the event of an emergency. 

RAVE/Smart911 Frequently Asked Questions(PDF, 776KB)

You can choose to register for RAVE Alert without Smart911 by not providing any additional information when you register