The City of Dunwoody uses Chattahoochee River 911 Authority, ChatComm, for 911 Communications.

ChatComm is a state-of-the-art, CALEA-accredited E911 center that answers 911 calls for the cities of Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, and Brookhaven. The City of Dunwoody’s Intergovernmental Agreement with ChatComm establishes performance standards that require ChatComm to answer all 911 calls within ten seconds (or less) and process 90% of calls for dispatch in 60 seconds (or less).

If you need police, fire, or emergency medical service, simply dial 9-1-1. If you are calling from a mobile phone, be sure to confirm your location with the call-taker.

As a CALEA-accredited 911 agency, ChatComm 911 provides a public link for citizens to provide comments, commendations, and other information regarding their quality of service relevant to the reaccreditation process. To find out more, visit ChatComm's Accreditation Public Comment Portal.

Did you know your cell phone’s billing address determines where your tax dollars go? Under federal law, those dollars directly support local services like our 911 Call Center, ChatComm.

 Please take a minute to check your billing address and update it if necessary. This simple step helps fund the services we all rely on.

Sign up for Smart 911

Smart911 is a powerful tool that helps avoid confusion and delays by providing personal information needed in an emergency when you call for help from a cell phone. Smart 911 is a free service brought to you by the City of Dunwoody and ChatComm 911.

According to the National Emergency Number Association, more than 80 percent of calls made to 911 come from cell phones. Those calls use towers that route calls to the nearest 911 Center, which might not always be the one you need. And unlike landline phones, cell phones are not tied to a specific address when you call for help. The dispatcher has only a general sense of your location, even if you’re calling from home.

Smart911 provides specifics tied to your cell phone number to quickly identify your call whether you are at home or elsewhere. You can go online or download to begin filling out your profile, and it’s up to you to decide how detailed you want to get. You can list the people in your household, upload photos, add medical information, medications, vehicle information, and even details about your pets. The information is entered on a secure site and is only available to dispatchers and emergency responders when you call 911.

Even if you’ve registered in the past, consider checking your account to make sure it’s up to date. Get started or check your account here: smart911.com

In an emergency, it can be hard to think straight. But if you know what to expect ahead of time, you’ll have a better experience and faster response. In Dunwoody, calls are answered by ChattComm 911, which also covers Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, and Johns Creek.

Stay calm

If you’re breathless, it’s harder for the dispatcher to understand you. You’ll need to start by stating your address clearly, and you might even need to spell it. Tricky street names like Eidson Hall and Fontainebleau in Dunwoody won’t auto-populate in the system if they’re misspelled. Provide details like cross streets or landmarks.

Be clear

State your emergency. Describe the situation as simply and precisely as possible. Let the dispatcher know whether the patient is conscious, alert, and breathing to help emergency responders arrive better prepared. The dispatcher might also ask if you can assist while you wait for help. Can you do chest compressions? Can you move the patient if necessary? Be prepared to step up if you’re willing and able.

Stay on the line

Don’t disconnect until the dispatcher tells you it’s okay to do so. This is especially important as the Dunwoody Police Department prepares to institute Live 911, which allows responding officers and supervisors to listen in on 911 calls directly. The dispatcher will likely continue to ask questions to further assess and help you manage the situation.

Don’t hesitate

Reluctance to call 911 can cause more problems than overuse. If you’re unsure about calling, state your concern right away to get guidance from the dispatcher. If in doubt, go ahead and make the call.

VoIP

Are you aware of limitations 911 service over VOIP? - FCC.gov

Portable interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services can be used from virtually any Internet connection anywhere, which raises challenges for the emergency services community in determining the location from which a 911 call has originated.

You should be aware that:

• VoIP 911 calls may not connect to the PSAP, or may improperly ring to the administrative line of the PSAP, which may not be staffed after hours, or by trained 911 operators.
• VoIP 911 calls may correctly connect to the PSAP, but not automatically transmit the user's phone number and/or location information.
• VoIP customers may need to provide location or other information to their VoIP providers, and update this information if they change locations, for their VoIP 911 service to function properly.
• VoIP service may not work during a power outage, or when the Internet connection fails or becomes overloaded.