Handling Emergencies

Calling 911 is your first source of help in times of crisis and it can mean the difference between life and death. When you call 911 within Lorain County, your call is routed to our 911 Center and is immediately answered by a dispatcher who will assist you with your emergency.

If calling from a landline, the dispatcher will see:

• The phone number you are calling from
• The address you are calling from
• The closest police department, fire district, and ambulance service

The dispatcher will verify your address, gather information about the reason for the call, and dispatch the appropriate agency to your location.  In critical or in-progress calls, the dispatcher may ask you to stay on the line with them if it is safe to do so.

If calling from a cell phone, it is important to provide the dispatcher with the following information:

• Location and/or mile markers
• Call-back (cell) phone number
• Description of the incident
• Landmarks
• Business name (if applicable)
  

Stay on the line until the dispatcher advises you to disconnect from the call.