The Roswell call center in Georgia is one of the few in the United States that accepts text messages.
People can livestream their every move on Facebook and chatter endlessly in group chats. But in most parts of the US, they still can't reach 911 by texting – an especially important service during mass shootings and other catastrophes when a phone call could place someone in danger.
Although text-to-911 service is slowly expanding, the emphasis there is on "slow." Limited funds, piecemeal adoption and outdated call-center technology have all helped stymie growth. Emergency 911 centers stress that a phone call is still the best way to reach them, since calls provide them with location data and other needed details.
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