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All 92 Indiana counties now allow text to 911

Indiana is now a leader in text to 911. The state has the most coverage of any in the country.
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INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - It's the emergency call we're all used to hearing - a dispatcher talking with a 911 caller.

But Bartholomew County's 911 center is handling more of the calls you don't hear.

"Generate a text message." Bartholomew County 911 Manager Ed Reuter is powering up his cell phone.

Last year his 911 center handled over 220 text to 911 messages.

"My boyfriend is trying to attack me," reads Reuter, quoting from a transcript of one text to 911. They are often sent secretly by victims who could not make a voice call.

"A woman was being held against her will traveling up the interstate and was able to text message mile markers in the backseat," he said.

"My phone is dying," she wrote at one point.

Later, "I just want to get out of the car. He says he has a gun in the trunk."

"We were able to communicate with the police who made a stop on the vehicle," Reuter told us.

Indiana is a leader in text to 911 with more coverage than any other state. You can now text 911 from all 92 Indiana counties.

That was not the case in Orlando where hiding victims tried texting police during last months dance club attack.

They had to text family to call 911. In one text the victim wrote to his mother: "In the club. They're Shooting. Call police. I'm going to die."

"Text messaging is going to take a little longer. Takes a little time in there. But the time is well worth spending," said Reuter.

But Reuter says watch how you send the message. He says enter your address before anything else. And state your emergency. Example: "123 Oak Street. Home breakin." give apartment number if you have one.

Even though the computer will probably show your phone's location it's still a good idea to add the city.

For example, in Bartholomew County Reuter says, "we have a Washington Street in Columbus and a Washington Street in Hartsville."

Reuter sent a test text to 911 which messaged us back.

"We received your 911 text do you have an emergency," was the response he received.

In Bartholomew County, the dispatcher has a long list of standard messages ready to send you in an instant. If you don't answer, they'll send help. Still, Reuter says voice calls are best when its safe to make them.

"Voice is still best. Dispatchers can capture the voice. They can hear what's going on in the background, how volatile situation is," he said.

The next step in this technology? The victim one day will be able to send pictures and video of the emergency back to dispatchers. That day is not here yet.

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