New Platform Allows for Texting 911 in Dubuque County

People calling the Dubuque Emergency Communications Center 911 line soon will be able to communicate with emergency dispatchers by text or livestream. On Monday, March 4, the center will launch a new software platform called Prepare Assist. The platform allows dispatchers to livestream, receive multimedia attachments and obtain location information from callers’ mobile devices in real time. Participation in the new service will be voluntary, and all emergency calls still should begin with a phone call to 911. If the caller agrees to the service, they will receive a livestream link from the dispatcher in a text message to send live video or photos. Since the software’s public launch in October 2021, Prepared Assist has been instituted by communities in more than 48 states with a combined population of more than 40 million people.