Text to 911 Service Comes to West Chicago
 
By Member Bill Schultz
April 8, 2025
 

The City of West Chicago and the West Chicago Fire Protection District are pleased to announce that Ducomm, West Chicago's 9-1-1 dispatch center, has added the ability for residents to text 9-1-1 dispatchers for emergencies, joining other helplines providers with texting services to 988 for Crisis Intervention and Suicide Support and 211 for health and social service resources.

Text-to-911 works on cell phones, tablets and other devices with the capability of sending texts using AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Text-to-911 does not currently receive pictures or video. Text-to-911 service is subject to cell signal availability– another reason why those attempting to contact 9-1-1 should call when they can and text when they can’t. In the event a text does not go through, the person attempting to use Text-to-911 should receive an automated bounce-back message indicating the text’s failure to be delivered.

For more information about the new Text-to-911 service visit Ducomm at https://www.ducomm.org/ or Dupage ETSB at https://www.dupagecounty.gov/government/departments/etsb/text_to_911.php