About Enhanced 911

WHEN DO I USE 911?
911 is a reporting number. Call 911 to report an incident that you believe requires the response or intervention of a law enforcement officer, firefighter or emergency medical service. The professionals answering the 911 call will determine which agencies or units should respond and how quickly they need to reach the scene of the incident.

Call 911 when:

A person is hurt or injured
A crime has been or is being committed
A motor vehicle accident occurs
Any situation involves a fire

HOW DOES ENHANCED 911 WORK?
Special computers and monitors display the location and phone number where the 911 call originated. A typical 911 display will give the phone number of the caller, the address and apartment or lot number, and the name of the telephone service subscriber.

HOW DOES A 911 CALL GET TO THE RIGHT PLACE?
Telephone computers are set up to identify the location where the 911 call originated and automatically route it to the correct 911 center for that geographic location. In Gibson County, a 911 call from anywhere in Gibson County will go to the Gibson County Sheriff's Department Communications Center.

WHAT ABOUT 911 CALLS FROM BUSINESSES?
911 works the same way from businesses. However, if the business has a private switchboard (PBX), the call may originate from one of several different buildings or floors. An example of this would be a hospital. The information displayed on the 911 screen will show the location of the switchboard. The 911 dispatcher will ask the caller for specific location information, such as which building or floor and room.

WHAT IF I NEED TO CALL 911 WHEN I'M AWAY FROM HOME?
You can call 911 from a pay phone. It is a free call. The address information from the coin phone is provided on the 911 display screen.

CAN I USE MY CELLULAR PHONE TO CALL 911?
Cellular phones can call 911 as a free call. However, no location information can be provided; the dispatcher is dependent upon the caller to provide location information, roadway, direction of travel, etc. All cellular 911 calls in Gibson County are answered by Gibson County Central Dispatch (UPDATED).

WHO PAYS FOR 911?
The state of Indiana permits each county to collect a $1.36 user fee on the telephone bills of the telephone service customers within the county. The revenues from the 911 user fee may be used only to pay the cost of the 911 system, telephone equipment, computer and location database charges, other required equipment, limited administrative expenses and limited other expenses.

IS THERE A PENALTY FOR ABUSE OF 911?
Yes. The Indiana Code states that it is a class B misdemeanor if a person commits false informing. False informing, according to IC 35-44-2-2(c), is defined as: "A person who gives a false report of the commission of a crime or gives false information in the official investigation of the commission of a crime, knowing the report or information to be false; gives a false alarm of a fire to the fire department of a governmental entity, knowing the alarm to be false; makes a false request for ambulance service to an ambulance service provider, knowing the request to be false."

WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE 911 WORK BETTER?

Don't use 911 to play games. False 911 calls tie up the lines and could prevent a genuine emergency call from getting through.
Don't call for situations which are not time sensitive or which do not require the response of police, fire or emergency medical services.
Don't call 911 to report inconveniences such as no electricity or plumbing problems or to ask for weather reports or other information. Use the administrative line -- (812) 385-3496.
Post your house number clearly so emergency responders can find you more quickly.

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