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An emergency is when immediate police, fire or medical assistance is necessary to protect life or property. If you’re not
sure if your situation is an emergency, you should err on the side of safety and call 9-1-1.
Inappropriate use of the 9-1-1 system exhausts resources and ties up the lines at the 9-1-1 center. In addition, making
harassing or prank calls to 9-1-1 is a crime and offenders could be charged with unlawful use of the 9-1-1 system.
Hillsborough County 9-1-1 Administration is responsible for the integrity of Hillsborough County's 9-1-1 system, and develops updgrades and enhancements for it. The Streets and Addresses Unit administers Hillsborough County's Uniform Numbering and Addressing Ordinance for unincorporated areas. It issues address numbers for residential and commercial structures; approves the naming of public and private streets; enforces the posting of addresses on residential and commercial structures; and provides street location information to emergency agencies; government agencies and the public.
Making 9-1-1 Work For You!
When you call 9-1-1:
- Know the address or location of the emergency you are reporting. This is probably the most important information
you can provide as a 9-1-1 caller, so try to be aware of your surroundings and be as detailed as possible. If you are
outside and don’t know the address, take a look around and try to find landmarks or cross streets. If you are inside a
large building or one with multiple levels, let 9-1-1 know which floor you are on or which apartment you are in. If
calling from a mobile home, it is useful to know your lot number and the name of the park.
- Know the telephone number you are calling from
- Follow the 9-1-1 call-taker’s instructions and answer the 9-1-1 call-taker’s questions as accurately as possible. Stay
calm; if you are crying or yelling, it can be hard for the 9-1-1 operator to understand you.
- Never hang up until told do so. Even if the situation may have resolved itself, it is important to let the 9-1-1 operator
know this. If you end the call abruptly, the operator will assume that something has gone very wrong and will either
call you back or send help anyway. Remember, a 9-1-1 operator can dispatch emergency responders to your
location without disconnecting from the call; therefore, make sure to hold the line so you can provide any necessary
information or assistance to the operator.
When you call from a cell phone:
The convenience of using your cell phone from anywhere -- at home, at work or at play -- can create a challenge for
emergency responders. Most cell phones in use today have the capability of being located when dialing 9-1-1. To be
sure your cell phone has 9-1-1 location capabilities, check with your service provider or cell phone manufacturer.
When you call from an Internet phone:
Since Internet phones -- also known as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) -- can be moved from location to location,
users need to register their phone’s location whenever it is moved. Check with your service provider on how to register
your phone’s location and to determine the level of 9-1-1 service they offer. Consider these critical factors regarding
Internet phones and your emergency call to 9-1-1:
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Does your Internet phone provide 9-1-1 access? Check with your service provider for emergency calling features.
- When calling for emergency help, give your location and call back number.
- Call back if you get disconnected.
- If the power is out, your Internet phone may also be out.
- If you travel with your VoIP adapter, your VoIP may not work for making 9-1-1 calls. Call from another phone.
Can you be found in an emergency?
Make sure your address is clearly posted on your home so it can be seen and read from the roadway.
Non-Emergencies
A non-emergency situation or event does not require an immediate response by police, fire or an ambulance.
If you call 9-1-1 by mistake:
Do not hang up! Let the 9-1-1 call-taker know you called by mistake.
Reporting non-emergencies:
To report a non-emergency or for general information, call the appropriate agency�s non-emergency telephone number:
| Hillsborough County Animal Services |
813-744-5660
813-654-6006 (after hours) |
| Hillsborough County Citizen Action Center |
831-272-5900 |
| Florida Highway Patrol |
813-632-6859 |
| Health Department |
813-307-8000 |
| Hillsborough County Fire/Medical |
813-272-5665 |
| Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office |
813-247-8200 |
| Hillsborough County Emergency Management |
813-272-6900 |
| Plant City Police |
813-757-9200 |
| Poison Information Center |
800-222-1222 |
| Tampa Fire Rescue |
813-232-6800 |
| Tampa International Airport Police |
813-870-8760 |
| Tampa Police |
813-231-6130 |
| Temple Terrace Police |
813-989-7110 |
| University of South Florida Police |
813-974-2628 |
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