Text to 911 now available in Jefferson County

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — You can now text 911 for help in Jefferson County.

MetroSafe announced Tuesday that its Text to 911 program is officially live in Jefferson County. It's an important tool for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities, as well as those in situations where speaking on the phone could put them in greater danger.

MetroSafe has been testing the service as a pilot program for several months.

"Recently, on a shift that I was working, I received a text message from an individual who was afraid of their partner and the potential violence," MetroSafe Supervisor Justin Bagby said. "They specifically said that if they called, they feared immediate danger, so luckily this program was in place. I was able to initiate a police response and get that individual some help."

MetroSafe is encouraging people to call 911 if they can and text if they cannot.

If you need to text 911, your first text should include your location and the nature of your emergency.