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1. When should I call 9-1-1?

Any event that threatens health, life, or property should be reported to 9-1-1. Some examples of events that would require emergency assistance are crimes in progress (those happening right now or that just happened), fires, or medical problems.

2. What if I’m not sure whether my situation is an emergency or not?

If you are not sure, call us. Dispatchers are trained to determine if your situation requires emergency assistance.

3. Why are callers sometimes provided another number to call when 9-1-1 is dialed?

Dispatchers are trained to determine if a situation requires emergency assistance. Callers who call 9-1-1 for general information (i.e., to request a telephone number, weather report, school closings, etc.) will be asked to call back the non-emergency telephone number (706) 695-6222 to free 9-1-1 lines in the event of a true emergency.

4. I have a hearing impairment and cannot communicate over a regular telephone. What should I do if I need help in an emergency?

Call 9-1-1. Dispatchers are trained to handle calls received on a TDD/TTY (telecommunications device for the deaf or teletypewriter) and Murray County 9-1-1 follows the requirements set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) providing direct, equal access to all callers.

5. How does 9-1-1 work?

9-1-1 is a very complex system. Basically, when you call 9-1-1 from a traditional land line phone, the telephone company you have service with provides 9-1-1 with the telephone number you are calling from, the address you are calling, and the name of the person who receives the telephone bill. On occasion, the address provided to 9-1-1 could be incorrect. Always be prepared to provide your exact location to the dispatcher. For more in depth explanation of how 9-1-1 works, visit 9-1-1 Magazine Online.

6. Can I call 9-1-1 from my cellular or PCS phone?

Yes. If you have an emergency, you may call 9-1-1 from your cellular or PCS phone, but always be prepared to provide your exact location. The information received by 9-1-1 from your cellular or PCS phone will differ from when you call from a traditional land line telephone. Calling 9-1-1 from your cellular or PCS phone will provide us with the ability to receive basic information along with identifying your location within 50 to 300 meters (approximately 164 feet to 984 feet) depending upon your wireless service provider.

To make this easier to understand, say there is an accident on the side of the road and you call 9-1-1 from your cellular or PCS phone, but you don’t know where you are. Your phone would provide us with enough information to get emergency personnel close enough to look for and find you. However, if you are at home and you live in a subdivision or apartment complex and you call 9-1-1 from your cellular or PCS phone, we could still send emergency personnel, but it would take longer to find you because emergency personnel would have to go door-to-door until they found the correct house or apartment.

7. What is a 9-1-1 address?

A 9-1-1 address is a physical street address assigned to an inhabitable structure (i.e., residential, business, or industrial structure). 9-1-1 addresses assists dispatchers and public safety personnel in locating a caller in an emergency situation.

8. How can I find out what my 9-1-1 address is?

If you have just moved into an existing residential, business, or industrial structure, there should already be a 9-1-1 address assigned. You may find out your 9-1-1 address by contacting the Murray County building inspector's office.

9. Where do I get a new 9-1-1 address from?

New 9-1-1 addresses are assigned by the Murray County building inspector's office.

10. What is a 9-1-1 surcharge?

A 9-1-1 surcharge is a fee collected by telephone service providers (traditional land line, VoIP, and wireless) based on jurisdiction and forwarded appropriately. The fee for each of these in Murray County is $1.50 per line. The fees can only be used to pay for equipment, salaries, rates associated with service suppliers, and office supplies as described in Georgia General Assembly HB 470