When Should You Call 911?
In an emergency, always call 911 without hesitation. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate help from police, fire, or EMS personnel. Examples include fires, crimes (especially in progress), car accidents, or medical emergencies.
For non-emergencies, you can reach us at (231) 689-5288 to report crimes that are not in progress or to speak with a dispatcher.
What Questions Will You Be Asked When Calling 911?
“Newaygo County 911, where is your emergency?” – We need to know your location to send help.
What are your cross streets? – This helps us confirm we’re sending help to the correct place, especially since many streets in Newaygo County span long distances.
What is happening? – This helps us determine whether police, fire, or EMS is needed.
The rest of the call is focused on gathering key information to ensure the safety of both you and first responders. Providing this info doesn’t delay response times, and depending on the situation, we might stay on the line with you until help arrives.
Cell Phones and 911
Did you know that it’s a law that any cell phone, even those without active service, can dial 911 in an emergency? Because of this, please keep unused or inactive phones out of children’s hands.
Although most people have cell phones, they don’t automatically provide us with your location. It’s important to know where you are, but if you’re unsure, we have technology to help us find you. This can take up to a minute or longer, depending on the situation. Once we have a location, we can send help right away.
Accidental 911 Calls
Accidental 911 calls happen, and we understand. If it happens to you, please stay on the line and let us know it was a mistake. Hanging up without explanation wastes valuable time and resources that could be needed for real emergencies.
