Orange City, Iowa — Sometimes you need to call 911 — but for some reason, you can’t. Now those in Sioux County can text 911 instead.
According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, the Sioux County Communications Center can now receive 911 via text message. Chief Deputy/Emergency Management Coordinator, Nate Huizenga has been in charge of the project, which began several years ago. Major Jamie Van Voorst with the Sheriff’s Office tells us about the system.
Van Voorst says that they hope that people who are being abused or their family members can use the 911 texting service so they can contact the authorities without speaking and cluing in the abuser that they’ve called 911.
He says to text 911, you just send a text like you normally would.
He says most importantly, they need you to text them your location.
Van Voorst says people should become familiar with some information that the Sheriff’s Office is providing regarding texting to 911. Find that information here.
