Local

St. Johns County 911 texting system encourages calling first

Deputies from Clay and St. Johns counties say the 911 text system is working, giving people another option in an emergency.

Action News Jax told you in 2014 when the Clay County Sheriff’s Office began testing the system.

St. Johns County started the system at the end of 2016

“In this community we have the school for the deaf and blind, so it’s important we give other options than calling 911,” said St. Johns County Lt. Mike Strausbaugh.

Deputies in St. Johns County say they’ve had 228 texts to 911 since the program started.

While it is a success, deputies encourage people to only use it if you absolutely can’t call.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says there have been two instances this year where texting 911 saved lives.

“One of them were having a berating problem,” said Clay County Sheriffs public information officer Keith Smith. “There was another incident where a victim was in an abusive relationship and she was able to text without her significant other seeing her phone."

Deputies say the texts go straight to their dispatch center, but calling is always faster.