Residents of Concordia Parish now have a new way to reach emergency services with the launch of text-to-911, an upgrade aimed at improving access and safety during critical situations.
The Concordia Parish Communications District officially activated the service on Thursday, making Concordia the seventh parish in Louisiana to offer text messaging to 911. Parish officials say the addition comes at an important time, ahead of anticipated impacts from Winter Storm Fern.
Concordia Parish Sheriff David Hedrick called the new feature a significant step forward for public safety. He noted that the upgrade has been in development for some time and expands access to emergency services for more residents. Sheriff Hedrick also emphasized that the parish’s 911 system continues to offer the Prepared Live feature, which allows callers to request a live video connection during a 911 call. That technology enables dispatchers and patrol deputies to see and hear what is happening at the caller’s location in real time.
Text-to-911 is designed for situations where speaking out loud could be unsafe or impossible. This includes domestic violence situations, medical emergencies that prevent speaking, and circumstances where making a voice call could put the caller in danger. The service also improves accessibility for individuals who are deaf, hearing-impaired, have speech disabilities, or face other communication challenges.
Residents who need to use text-to-911 should follow these steps:
-
Enter 911 in the “To” field on their phone
-
Send a brief message that includes their location and the type of emergency
-
Be prepared to answer follow-up questions from the dispatcher
-
Use clear, simple language and avoid abbreviations or slang
Officials stress that while text-to-911 is now available in Concordia Parish, calling 911 remains the preferred method whenever it is safe and possible to do so. Text messaging should be used only when a voice call cannot be made safely or effectively.
Parish leaders encourage residents to familiarize themselves with the new service so they are prepared to use it if the need arises.
Comments