America’s 911 System Is Dangerously Out of Date

“911, what is your emergency?” For the millions of Americans who have dialed 911, these are the familiar and comforting words we hear upon placing the call. It is the question that guides us through a moment of chaos or crisis, the linchpin to saving lives and protecting health. But in recent years, an increasing number of 911 callers have heard something a little different:“911, where is your emergency?” It is very nearly the same question, but the slight change underscores vast differences in people’s experiences seeking help in an emergency. In an era when parents can monitor their children’s movements in real time, and ride-share drivers know the precise corner to stop, many Americans may be surprised to learn a sobering truth: the 911 professionals who answer the phone are often unable to automatically pinpoint a caller’s precise location, and cannot always rely on callers themselves to provide it. The extra time it takes to figure out exactly where to send help, even if it’s a few extra seconds, costs lives. But the United States has let our 911 emergency response system languish for decades, failing to make the necessary investments to bring it into the digital age. That ina...