Kanawha County Metro 911 is committed to providing the highest level of public safety services to our community. We serve as the first response in emergencies and monitor every aspect of public safety services provided to our community – Police, Fire and EMS. Metro 911 not only answers phone calls and texts, we are also responsible for dispatching Police, Fire and EMS services in the county. That includes 32 Fire Departments, 22 Police Departments and 2 EMS agencies.
What is an emergency?
An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police, fire department and/or paramedics. Examples of when to call include:
- Is there a threat to life or property?
- Are you or someone else the victim of a crime?
- Medical Emergencies
- Fires
If you are not sure whether the situation is a true emergency, we recommend calling 9-1-1 and letting the call-taker determine whether you need help.
So, what happens when you call or text 911?
A 911 telecommunicator will answer your call and ask you all the pertinent questions to get you the help you need. Citizens should be prepared to answer the following questions:
- Location of Emergency – Including Street Address
- Phone Number
- Nature of Emergency
- Specific Details: Vehicle Information, Suspect Information, Event Description, Injury Description and/or Symptoms
Remember to remain calm, speak clearly, stay on the line and try to answer all questions. Once the necessary information is obtained our computer system will send your call for service to the correct 911 telecommunicator based on the location and nature of your emergency. The telecommunicator will then relay the information to the appropriate field unit so they can respond.