Now You Can Text 911*

Starting today in select areas, as long as you have mobile phone service through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, or T-Mobile, you can text rather than call 911 in an emergency. The FCC's text-to-911 program will be available across the nation by the end of the year, Gizmodo reports. The text must include your emergency and your location, as locations can't be determined by call centers if you're texting instead of dialing in. The FCC's official recommendation is, "Always contact 911 by making a voice call, if you can." (More emergency stories.)