What if I call 911 by mistake?

If you or anyone in your household, including children, call 911 by mistake, do not hang up but stay on the line.

Enhanced 911

Cayuga County is an Enhanced 911 center and we can obtain the location of where 911 was called from. If you dial 911 by mistake and hang up, our policy is to try to call back the number and reach an adult who can tell us if there is any problem. We then have to send Law Enforcement to verify that there isn't any problem. This takes Law Enforcement away from being able to handle a real emergency.

Verify a Non-Emergency Situation

If you stay on the line and speak with a 911 Center employee, we will ask you to verify that you do not have an emergency and also verify that what shows up on our computer is correct in case you ever do have one.

Things to Remember

Remember that old, deactivated cell phones can still call 911 as long as there is a charge in the battery. Do not allow your children to play with home phones or cell phones. Children make the majority of 911 hang up calls we get, but we still have to treat them as if they are true emergencies.

Show All Answers

1. What is 911?
2. When should you call 911?
3. What should you expect when calling 911?
4. What does the 911 Center expect from me when I place a 911 call?
5. What if I call 911 by mistake?
6. Can you find me if I call 911 from my cell phone?
7. How can I help Emergency Responders find me faster?
8. Can I text 911?
9. What qualifies as a police emergency?
10. What qualifies as a fire emergency?
11. What qualifies as a medical emergency?