Bell County Communications Center

05/27/2026

Know When to Call or Text 9-1-1! Call if you can, Text if you cannot!

🚨 Every second counts in a medical emergency. Know when to call 9-1-1 and when to reach out to your local provider or urgent care instead.

🩻 For non-emergencies like mild colds, minor cuts, or medical advice, contact your local medical provider or urgent care clinic.

📲 Remember to ONLY contact 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies. Your quick decision can save lives and ensure help gets where it’s needed most.

Thanks to the 9-1-1 Team at Greater Harris County 911 Emergency Network for creating this infographic and all their amazing 9-1-1 education resources!

05/22/2026

KNOW YOUR LOCATION, especially when recreating in nature.
⛺Whether you spend your summer recreation time on/near the water, in the woods, or at an event, knowing your exact location can make all the difference during an emergency. When you call 9-1-1, details matter.
⛵Fill in the blanks and be safe on the water.


- No importa dónde decidas pasar tu verano — ya sea en el agua, en el monte o en algún evento — conocer tu ubicación exacta puede hacer toda la diferencia en una emergencia. Cuando llamas al 9-1-1, los detalles importan.
Llena los espacios y mantente

05/22/2026

Stay Safe In, On, and Near the water this summer. Follow these few easy tips to keep yourself and others safe on the lakes.
🌊 Wear a properly fitting life jacket.
🏊 Swim only in designated swimming areas.
🚫 Boat Sober, like in wheeled vehicles have a designated driver.
🛥️ Boat motors produce carbon monoxide, do not linger at the rear of boats.

Be ready to pass that boating safety check 🙂
Texas Game Wardens are urging boaters to play safe on the water:

⛈️ Check the weather before heading out

✅ Have a life jacket for everyone on board.

🧒 Kids

05/12/2026

Congratulations to Kenneth, our April 2026 Employee of the Month! Kenneth was nominated for his dedication to morale improvement, including upgrading the "Crave Cave!" IYKYK

Kenneth is the Support Services (IT) Director for Bell County Communications Center and explained a little of what he does for 9-1-1 in Bell County. "From the network connections that carry it into the building to the solutions that record it and store it away, my team and I keep the software vehicles moving along the network super highway. I also build the occasional float."
Kenneth, Support Services Dir., 23 years of service

05/08/2026

Thank You to The 100 Club of Central Texas for awarding the Bell County Communications Center team as the Outstanding Team of the Year during the Outstanding First Responder Awards on May 7, 2026! We were honored to represent our agency at the awards ceremony for those Answering The Call!

04/29/2026

🚨 If it is too dangerous to call, you have a hearing or speech impairment, then texting 9-1-1 could save your life. Remember to ONLY call or text to 9-1-1 in an emergency.
📞
Call if you can, Text if you can't! Making a voice call to 9-1-1 is preferred to get the 9-1-1 Telecommunicator information quickly. If Text-to-911 is not available where you are, a "bounce back" message will let you know to call.
📱
Enter 911 in the "To" or "Send" field, type out your message, include your location in the first message, and hit send. In your message(s) include the type of emergency service you need, and give the 911 Telecommunicator a description of the emergency. Keep messages brief and clear, do not use abbreviations, answer the questions, and follow the instructions given just like in a voice call.
🚫
Do NOT send images, videos, or emojis!
Do NOT Text and Drive!

04/28/2026

Even kids can help in an emergency by calling or texting 9-1-1! Teach the children in your life what 9-1-1 is, when to call 9-1-1, and how to call or text 9-1-1!

❓What is 9-1-1?
🚓 9-1-1 is the emergency number you can call to get help from police, firefighters, or an ambulance.
❓When is it okay to call or text 9-1-1?
🚒Help explain what an emergency is. If someone around them is not breathing, in danger, or physically hurt, that is an emergency. If they see fire or smell smoke, that is an emergency.
❓How do you use 9-1-1?
🚑Teach kids how to use the type of phone (landline or cell) they may use.
❓What do you say?
🗺️ 9-1-1 needs to know the location of the emergency, what the emergency is, and a phone number in case the call disconnects. Teach kids their home address (or write important info in a visible place), to answer the 9-1-1 calltaker questions, follow the 9-1-1 instructions, and to stay on the line.

💻 NCT 9-1-1 has easy instructions and tools to help to teach kids about 9-1-1 at https://nct911.org/teaching-kids

04/26/2026

If you dial 911 by mistake, or if a child in your home dials 911 when no emergency exists, do NOT hang up! Stay on the line and explain what happened, we just want to make sure everyone is safe. 911 may think that an emergency exists, and possibly send responders to your location.
📞
Help prevent accidental 911 calls by checking smart device SOS or emergency settings, keep phones secure when driving, and remove batteries from phones not in use.

04/24/2026

Did you know Texas has classified 9-1-1 Telecommunicators as First Responders since September 1, 2019? This classification helps recognize the importance of the work 9-1-1 does and provides access to training and support services. The work of a 9-1-1 Telecommunicator goes far beyond answering the phone.

📞

9-1-1 Telecommunicators are often the first contact people have to emergency services and they can provide aide/instructions before Police, Fire, and EMS responders arrive on scene. In 31 states and nationally 9-1-1 Telecommunicators are not legally classified as First Responders or as part of the Protective Service Occupations (workers who provide public safety).

04/23/2026

Know when to Call or Text 9-1-1!

If it is not an emergency that needs police, fire, or medical assistance be sure to know the appropriate non-emergent numbers to call.