Call 911 When You Can
Text to 911 When You Can't
Now you can text emergencies to 911 in Brea and throughout Orange County using your cell phone. Enter 911 as destination address in the text message followed by your location and a brief description of the emergency. While dispatchers will have a geolocation from your cell phone, they will not have your exact address, so provide specific location information whenever possible.
Brea Police Dispatch will be able transfer text messages to all Orange County Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), including Orange County Fire Authority, Metro Net Fire and some surrounding counties. The dispatcher will also be able to monitor the text conversation to ensure the correct jurisdiction/agency has been reached and that there is no information pertinent to the dispatcher’s own agency.
Text-to-911 provides equal access to emergency services for the hearing and speech impaired community, as well as an alternate method of reporting emergencies when traditional avenues are unavailable. It is not available in all areas and while roaming.
It is important to note that calling 911 and talking to a dispatcher is still the most efficient way to report an emergency. Only use Text-to-911 in those instances when you cannot call.
Warning: Just like calling 911, Text-to-911 is for emergencies only. Prank callers or texters can be identified and will be prosecuted.
For more info on the Text-to-911 service, click here.