How the 911 Service Works

When you call 911, the telephone system will route your call to the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) who answer 911 calls for your region. 

• There are two PSAPs, one in Corner Brook and one in St. John’s.
• Calls to each PSAP is determined by a boundary based on the number of phone subscribers in the province. This boundary is intended to provide an even distribution of calls to each PSAP. 
  • Calls from east of the general area of Salmonier Line are answered by the St. John’s PSAP.
  • Calls from the rest of the province are answered by the Corner Brook PSAP.

What happens when you call 911?
When the 911 call is answered, the 911 Call Taker will ask you for:  

• The type of emergency (are the police, fire or ambulance needed).
• Your phone number.
• The location of the emergency (community or on a highway).

The location information is entered into the 911 system, which will show the 911 Call Taker the emergency response agencies for the area. Your call will then be transferred to the emergency agency to assist. 

What if my emergency needs more than one responder? 
Sometimes emergencies need more than one kind of emergency response. In these cases, the 911 Call Takers will also notify other agencies of the emergency reported. The information provided is limited to your area/location and your phone number.