The AT&T outage affecting wireless customers in Santa Barbara County calling 911 has been resolved.

This incident is an important reminder that text to 911 is available at anytime. Watch this video from the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office to learn more.

A voice call is still the fastest and most effective. Text to 911 is essential for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired. It is critical in dangerous situations where speaking out loud could put you at risk. It can help during medical emergencies when you cannot speak. During major network disruptions, texts may go through even when calls fail.

Tips for Using Text to 911:

• Text your exact location so help can be sent quickly.
• Use clear, plain language.
• Avoid emojis, slang, or abbreviations in your text.
• Send a one-on-one message. Group texts do not reach 911.
• Text to 911 is for emergencies only.