A new statewide awareness campaign is reminding residents that a voice call is not the only way to reach emergency dispatchers. North Carolina Text-to-911 allows someone to send a text message to 911 when speaking by phone is unsafe or impossible.
The N.C. 911 Board, which operates within the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, launched the 16-week public-service campaign in collaboration with Spectrum Reach. The announcements will appear on traditional television, streaming and connected-TV platforms, and mobile streaming services.
When North Carolina Text-to-911 Can Help
State officials say the service is intended for people who cannot speak because of a medical emergency, are in a dangerous situation where making a voice call could increase the risk of harm, or are deaf, hard of hearing or living with a speech-related disability.
The campaign’s central message is simple: “Call if you can, text if you can’t.” A voice call remains the preferred option when it is safe and possible because a dispatcher can immediately ask questions and hear information from the caller. North Carolina Text-to-911 provides another lifeline when that kind of conversation cannot happen.
That distinction matters in emergencies where being overheard could place someone in greater danger. It also makes emergency communication more accessible to residents whose medical condition or disability prevents them from speaking clearly by phone.
More Than 70,000 Messages Sent in 2025
Emergency communication centers across the state received more than 70,000 Text-to-911 messages in 2025, according to the N.C. 911 Board. The volume shows that texting is already an established part of the state’s emergency-response system rather than a future service still under development.
North Carolina completed its transition to a statewide Next Generation 911 network in 2024. The modernized system securely routes landline calls, mobile calls and text messages to the appropriate public-safety answering point based on location. It also allows 911 centers to support one another during natural disasters or periods of unusually high call volume.
That technology forms the backbone of North Carolina Text-to-911 and helps emergency professionals maintain access to critical information when communication options are limited.
Campaign Focuses on Public Awareness
State officials say the biggest goal of the campaign is making sure residents know the option exists before they face an emergency. In a crisis, people may default to familiar habits and assume that a voice call is their only path to help.
By reinforcing the service through television and streaming messages, the N.C. 911 Board hopes more residents will remember that texting can connect them with trained emergency telecommunicators when calling would be unsafe.
North Carolina Text-to-911 should be used only for genuine emergencies, just like a traditional 911 call. Residents should remember the state’s guidance: call if you can, and text if you cannot.
Star 102.5 is sharing the reminder as a practical public-safety resource for listeners across the Sandhills. Keeping you connected to the Sandhills and beyond.
Sources: Official announcements from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology and the state’s Next Generation 911 milestone report, with a contributed report published by the Sandhills Sentinel.
