The Florence County Sheriff's Office Communications Division includes a state of the art Central Dispatch/911 Center, and various forms of radio and telephone communications.  Highly trained and dedicated, Our 911 dispatchers  are highly trained and dedicated and are considered among the finest in the State.

The 9-1-1 Emergency System makes an important difference in our community everyday.  It is your first source of help in times of crisis and it can mean the difference between life and death.  When used properly, 9-1-1 saves seconds and those seconds can save lives.

Dispatch/E911  Ext. 440

*WHEN TO DIAL 9-1-1

An emergency is when immediate Sheriff's Office, police, fire department or medical assistance is necessary to protect life or property.

If an emergency situation arises - a crime, a fire, a serious injury or illness - ask yourself whether law enforcement, fire department or medical assistance is needed right now to protect life or property.  If YES, then immediately dial 9-1-1 and advise the 9-1-1 operator of what has happened or is happening.

Call 9-1-1 whenever you believe there is an emergency.  If you are not sure it is a real emergency, dial 9-1-1 and the 9-1-1 operator will make the final determination.

If the 9-1-1 system receives several calls at the same time, emergency services handle these multiple calls on a priority basis.  The most serious emergency will be handled first.  No money is needed to call 9-1-1 from a pay phone.

*WHEN CALLING 9-1-1

> Stay calm. Give your name, location, and nature of the emergency.

> Listen carefully to the 9-1-1 operator.

> Answer the 9-1-1 operator's questions as accurately as possible.  Speak clearly and slowly.

>Do exactly as the 9-1-1 operator tells you during the course of the call.

>Never hang up on the 9-1-1 operator until you are told to do so.  If  you hang up and redial, your call will go to the end of the line of people waiting for service.

*NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

> Do not dial 9-1-1 for non-emergency situations.   For non-emergency situations such as noisy neighbors or stolen hub caps, use the Sheriff's Office's regular phone number, never 9-1-1, DIAL 665-2121.

> Never tell a 9-1-1 operator that a situation is more serious than it really is.  It is against the law to intentionally and knowingly give false information to law enforcement or emergency services.  Abuse of 9-1-1 may delay someone else's access to emergency assistance.