Lt. Gov. Nelson, First Lady Ganem Encourage Use of Text to Communicate with Family During Emergencies

Nebraskans are being urged to use text messages to "talk" during and immediately after an emergency situation.

Lt. Gov. John Nelson and first lady Sally Ganem say it's important to leave bandwidth for 911 calls and emergency responders. To do that, the pair is urging the use of an "I'm safe" text to friends and family.

Ganem said, “A simple message such as ‘R-U-OK' to check on those you care about, and ‘I-M-OK' to confirm you are safe, can bring relief as well as keeping other lines of communication open for emergency responders and people needing to call 911.”

Officials say a single, one-minute phone call takes the same bandwidth as 800 short SMS text messages. Those calls may shutdown wireless phone service and keep emergency calls from getting through.

“It can be scary to watch an event unfolding a town or a state away, and not know how it is affecting someone you care about,” Nelson said. “In today's environment, it is critical for people to be prepared to stay in touch. This is especially true when phone lines are overtaxed. Texting is a good alternative to voice communications in non-emergency situations and should be a part of every family's preparedness.”

Text messaging to 911 is not yet available in Nebraska and anyone in need of immediate assistance should call 911.More information on emergency preparedness communications can be found on the Safe America Foundation's website andwww.bereadynebraska.com.