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About 911
Audrain County E-911 Joint Communications is the public safety answering point (PSAP) for all of Audrain County, so if you call 911 in Audrain County it will be answered by a telecommunicator at the Audrain County E-911 Joint Communications Center in Mexico, Missouri.
What is 911?
Simply—911 is a three-digit telephone number that you can call 24 hours a day for police, fire or emergency medical services. 911 saves valuable time in an emergency because you only have to remember three digits (9-1-1).
The 911 emergency telephone system was developed for the United States in 1967 as a way for the public to quickly communicate a call for emergency assistance. The system has been upgraded many times over the years.
Enhanced 911 (E-911) systems automatically forward emergency calls made to the telephone number 911 to a communications center that will dispatch help. E-911 computer software and telephone lines link the telephone company to the communications center. The telephone company maintains a database of information with the name, address and special notations about the people registered as the residents at each phone number location. This information is automatically displayed to the personnel at the communications center on a computer monitor when a 911 call comes in. The names of the appropriate emergency response agencies (law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services) are also shown.
When should I call 911?
In an emergency—When you believe that the immediate response of the police, a fire truck or an ambulance is needed.
Some examples of when to call 911:- When you see a fire.
- When you see or smell smoke.
- When you or someone with you is in danger.
- When you see a crime is being committed or has just occurred.
- When you believe that an ambulance is needed because someone is hurt or sick.
- When someone is trying to get in your house.
- When someone suspicious is prowling around your house or neighbor's house.
- When a child is approached by a stranger.
When should I NOT call 911?
Some examples of when not to call 911:
- To obtain weather reports and road conditions.
- To report utility problems (such as power outages, phone or water problems).
- To ask for directions or road names.
- For general information pertaining to police reports or the jail.
- Keys locked in vehicles, unless someone is locked inside (especially a child).
- To request a taxi.
- To find out what time the parade begins.
If you dial 911 by accident, do not hang up the phone, all hang-ups on 911 must have police dispatched to the location to check on the call. Accidents happen, stay on and tell the operator it was an error.
Who can call 911?
Anyone can call 911, no matter how old they are.
The sight-impaired can use the digits, 911 on the telephone.
The hearing and speech impaired can use a special phone called a TTY/TDD machine to call 911. Audrain County E-911 Joint Communications is TTY/TDD equipped.
How do I call 911?
To call 911 from a home phone or a simple business phone, pick up the phone and press the numbers 9-1-1.
To call 911 from a Centrex or PBX business extension, obtain an outside line and then press the numbers 9-1-1.
To call 911 from a pay phone, no money is needed, simply pick up the receiver and press the numbers 9-1-1.
To call 911 from a cellular phone or mobile phone, press the numbers 9-1-1 and press the "send" or "snd" button (this button is usually green).
Wireless 911
When you dial 911 from your cell phone in Audrain County, your call will be automatically routed to Audrain County E-911 Joint Communications.
When you place a wireless 911 call, keep in mind that you are transmitting a "radio signal" that is received by a cellular telephone tower. It is possible, especially with towers near county lines, that your 911 call could be routed to another county. So, when making a wireless 911 call be prepared to give as much detail as possible about your location (including an address, an intersection or nearby landmarks).
When you place a wireless 911 call in Audrain County the telecommunicator receiving your call at the Audrain County E-911 Joint Communications Center will not receive the same information (name, phone number, location and special notations about the people registered to the phone number) that they receive for a landline call. This is because of the different technology required to handle the location information from cellular phones.
Audrain County E-911 Joint Communications is Wireless Phase II with AT&T Mobility (formerly Cingular Wireless), Sprint Nextel and US Cellular which means that if you call 911 from an AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel or US Cellular wireless phone then the telecommunicators will receive your wireless phone's number, the address of the tower handling your call and your estimated location based on tower triangulation or GPS technology. Joint Communications is Wireless Phase 0 with all other wireless carriers which means that the telecommunicators do not receive any information from a wireless 911 call if they come from wireless phones provided by carriers other than AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel or US Cellular.
View Wireless 911 deployment in Missouri
For more information about Wireless 911 visit NENA's Cell Phones and 9-1-1 page.
What do I need to do when I use 911?
911 is only a telephone number. Quick response depends on the important information that you provide. The telecommunicator will ask you a series of questions. Remain calm and be prepared to provide the following information:
- What kind of emergency you have or what kind of help you need.
- Where is the emergency?
- The telephone number you are calling from.
- What is wrong with the patient?
- How old is the patient?
- Is the patient awake?
- Is the patient breathing?
What should I remember about 911?
911 is not for jokes—It is for people who need help.
911 is to be used for emergencies—When you believe that the immediate response of the police, a fire truck or an ambulance is needed.
911 is not for police or jail information. For those inquiries call the non-emergency number.
- Audrain County E-911 Joint Communications: 573-473-5800
- Audrain County Jail: 573-473-5805 ext 235
- Audrain County Sheriff's Office: 573-473-5800
- Mexico Public Safety Department: 573-581-2100
- Vandalia Police Department: 573-594-3344
If you dial 911 by accident, do not hang up the phone, all hang-ups on 911 must have police dispatched to the location to check on the call. Accidents happen, stay on and tell the operator it was an error.
Helpful Tips
- Post your address, phone number and the closest intersection to your home by each telephone for anyone (baby-sitter, friend, visitor and family members) to be able to give the vital information needed for quick response.
- Be sure your house number is visible from the street or clearly posted where your driveway joins the main road.
- Be sure to explain to your children what is and is not an emergency! If they are ever in doubt tell them to call 911.
Audrain County's 911 System
Audrain County's E-911 system started in August 1997. Prior to that time, emergency calls came into the communications centers at the Audrain County Sheriff's Office and Mexico Public Safety Department via telephone (some using 911 and others using the regular telephone numbers), but there was no automatic information about the caller available to the communications center. Personnel taking the call were required to manually take down the caller's information and determine who the responding emergency agencies should be. This took quite a bit of time. Audrain County residents recognized that the enhanced system would be a valuable service, and so passed a vote to authorize a phone tax to pay for the service. The E-911 system now in place in Audrain County allows for quick and accurate response to emergency calls.
For more information about Audrain County Joint Communications and Audrain County's E-911 System visit the About Audrain County Joint Communications page.
Download a brochure explaining when to call 911 and what to expect when you call.
This page last updated on: January 17, 2010 at 11:39 am
Audrain County E-911 Joint Communications
