Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Emphasizes New Availability of Important Public Safety Tool for Maryland Residents Text to 911 Can Save Lives
ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is proud to announce the availability of a new public safety tool, Text-to-911, throughout the State of Maryland. Residents and visitors can now text “911” in an emergency. This service is meant to provide a means for emergency communication for individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing, those who have speech disabilities, and for individuals who may be in a situation where it is unsafe to place a voice call to 911.
“This is another fantastic example of collaboration among state and local leaders to provide Marylanders a life-saving public service. Now, everyone can text to 911 from Baltimore City and every county in Maryland,” said Kelby Brick, director of the Governor Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.”
Collaborative work among the Emergency Number Systems Board, the Governor’s Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GODHH), and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) led to the first pilot program in Frederick County in 2015. The Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing then collaborated with various agencies at local and state level to take this service statewide. This led to a 2018 Board of Public Works approval for a contract to implement Text-to-911 service statewide through each county and Baltimore City.
“This opens a new door for our 1.2 million Deaf and hard of hearing Maryland residents in communicating with first responders directly,” said Director Brick. “Implementing Text to 911 is a major milestone in Governor Hogan’s commitment to making Maryland more accessible and safe for all individuals.”
Text-to-911 is supported by AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. To text 911, enter “911” in the “To” field of a new text message and explain your situation and location. When your text has been received, a 911 specialist will respond to your text.
More information about Text-to-911, including helpful videos, is available here: odhh.maryland.gov/text911.
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About the Governor's Office of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
The Governor’s Office of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing serves as a coordinating office that advises the governor on issues related to the Deaf and hard of hearing population. The office advocates for and promotes equal access and the general welfare of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals in Maryland by addressing policy gaps, providing expertise, and facilitating access to resources. Learn more by visiting our website at odhh.maryland.gov and connecting with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
