Emergency 9-1-1

Burke County's 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System provides for the immediate response to emergencies anywhere in the county. Calls made to 9-1-1 lines must be restricted to those situations that require immediate dispatching of Sheriff's Deputies, Paramedics or Fire Department personnel. Using 9-1-1 for non-emergency calls may delay help for people caught in real emergencies. To contact the sheriff's office for non-emergency dispatch, call 706-554-2133.

To reach dispatch dial 9-1-1 on any telephone, cellular phone or public telephone. No money is needed for calling 9-1-1 from a pay phone. If there is an emergency, you can pick up a pay phone, wait for a dial tone and dial 9-1-1 without depositing a coin.

When Calling 9-1-1

• Stay calm. Give your location, the nature of the emergency, and your name
• Listen carefully to the 9-1-1 call-taker
• Answer the 9-1-1 call-taker's questions as accurately as possible. Speak clearly and slowly
• Do exactly as the 9-1-1 call-taker tells you during the course of the call
• Never hang up on the 9-1-1 call-taker until you are told to do so

The E-911 Center is responsible for providing the most effective emergency communications service possible. Realizing the response time is critical in emergency situations, the goal of this department is to respond to all emergencies in an expedient and efficient manner. This will provide the best opportunity for protecting life and property. The E-911 center dispatches law enforcement and emergency service personnel for all agencies in Burke County.

Although the first 9-1-1 call was placed in Haleyville, AL, in 1968, it was not until 1999 that the United States Congress directed the FCC to make 9-1-1 the universal emergency number in the United States for all telephone services. The 9-1-1 network is now a vital part of our nation's emergency response and disaster preparedness system. Emergency personnel and others often learn about emergencies through 9-1-1 calls. Dialing 9-1-1 quickly connects a caller to a nearby Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) dispatcher who is trained to route your call to local emergency medical, fire, and law enforcement agencies.