Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network (GHC 9-1-1) reminds residents before, during and following the winter weather—only contact 9-1-1 for emergency assistance: police, fire or medical emergency services. It is important not to overload the emergency call centers with non-emergency calls.  Non-emergency calls can delay residents with REAL life-threatening emergencies getting the response they need.

Be prepared and make a plan. Monitor news reports on television, radio, or social media for information about road closures, power outages and accidents due to ice—DO NOT call 9-1-1 to inquire. Write down phone numbers for your local power provider or follow them on social media to get information and updates.

Be prepared for power outages at your home, and make a plan for communications.

• If you have power dependent phone service, be sure that you have a plan for communications.
• If you have VoIP/internet phone service, be aware that your phone service may not be available if you lose power.
• Keep your cellular phones fully charged as well as any extra portable chargers in case you need to use them for emergency assistance.
• Remember your battery power will decrease the more your cellular phone is used for communications, social media and internet usage.

If you have an emergency:

• Call 9-1-1, answer all questions and follow instructions
• CALL IF YOU CAN, TEXT IF YOU CAN’T – ONLY TEXT 9-1-1 IF YOU CANNOT MAKE A VOICE CALL. Voice calls are the fastest and best way to reach 9-1-1.

GHC 9-1-1 is responsible for administering the 9-1-1 telecommunications services for 49 cities and the unincorporated areas of two counties: Harris and Fort Bend: www.911.org.