Osceola County starts 911 texting

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) – Residents of Osceola County can get emergency help now by texting 911.

Osceola County officials said Monday that anybody in the county can now text 911 and be put in touch with an emergency dispatcher.

The dispatcher can text the person in need until police officers or firefighters arrive at the scene.

Osceola County, located south of Orlando, is the eighth Florida county to implement the service. The program costs around $66,000 a year.

Nationwide, around 5 percent of emergency dispatch centers are able to use 911 texts.

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