9-1-1 Communications Center

CARE is Here to Send Help

The Seattle CARE Department operates the 9-1-1 Communications Center and the Community Crisis Responder (CCR) Team.

The 9-1-1 Communications Center initially screens all incoming 9-1-1 calls within the city of Seattle and oversees public safety radio dispatching of Seattle Police Department (SPD) personnel and CCRs.

The 9-1-1 Communications Center is also responsible for answering the City of Seattle non-emergency line at (206) 625-5011.
 
The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) Fire Alarm Center (FAC) operates as a secondary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to the 9-1-1 Communications Center, from which FAC receives transfers of 9-1-1 calls, to handle all requests for fire response and emergency medical services (EMS) in Seattle. The FAC also serves as a backup location for the 9-1-1 Communications Center. 

The 9-1-1 Communications Center is staffed twenty-four (24) hours a day and three-hundred sixty-five (365) days a year, to help respond to emergencies.  

9-1-1 Call Takers are trained to support everyone who may call, including those with limited English, who are deaf or hard of hearing, who may need to text 9-1-1, or who use teletypewriter machines (TTY).  

Always Call 9-1-1 for

• A police, fire, or medical emergency. 
• A serious situation which poses a danger to life, property, or both. 
• A serious crime such as robbery, domestic violence, or sexual assault. 
• A downed power line.

Learn about creating a Seattle Smart911 profile here that will help 9-1-1 Call Takers securely access information about any medical conditions you may have in the event you have an emergency.

For Non-Emergency Situations

• Past crimes: Report past crimes (incidents not in progress) including theft, burglaries, fraud, property damage, narcotics activity, nuisance, and lost property by calling (206) 625-5011 or online with the Seattle Police Department.  
• Automobile: If your vehicle is stolen, try (206) 625-5011. If no answer, call 9-1-1 even if the theft was in the past. Report motor vehicle collisions with the Washington State Patrol website here.
• Power Outage: Call Seattle City Light (206) 684-3000. View the current outage map here. 
• Social Services: Call 211 for crisis intervention, utility assistance, food, housing, health, child care, after school programs, elder care, and more. Learn more at www.wa211.org. 
• Mental Health: Call, text, or chat 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The 988 Lifeline is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365. (Hyperlink: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | Washington State Department of Health) 
• Other City Issues: To report issues with animals, dumping, encampments, infrastructure, and other non-emergencies call Customer Service Bureau at (206) 684-2489, use the "Find It, Fix It" app, or use the Customer Service Bureau website to file a request for a wide range of services. 

Area-Wide Emergencies

• In the case of an area-wide emergency, do not use your telephone for the first few hours following the event unless you have a life-threatening emergency and need to call 9-1-1.

Teach Children about 9-1-1 

• Teach children about 9-1-1 and when it is okay to call 9-1-1. 
• Help children understand that playing 9-1-1 is a bad idea, because it may delay help for someone who really needs help during an emergency.