Community & Impact
Answering the Call
Dive into community programs, partnerships, preparedness tools, media highlights, and resources that support you, the SNO911 team and the first responders who show up when it matters most.
— Public Safety Education —
When Should I Call 911?
You should call 911 for life-threatening or potentially life-threatening emergencies, including in-progress crimes, fires, or serious medical situations. When in doubt, call — our dispatchers are trained to help you assess the situation quickly.
Non-Emergency Line
425-407-3999
Call the non-emergency line when you need police, fire, or EMS assistance but there is no immediate danger to life or property, or the situation is not happening right now.
Examples: Reporting a car break-in discovered after the fact, a stolen bicycle, ongoing noise or parking complaints, minor property damage, crashes, or providing additional information about a previous report.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Staying informed and being prepared for an emergency is the best way to keep you and your family safe. SNO911 provides resources to make sure you can quickly connect with help when you need
Family Emergency Plan
Having a plan in place can help you and your family act quickly in an emergency or natural disaster. Ready.gov has a variety of resources to help you make plans for shelter, communication and more.
Smart 911
A Smart911 profile gives 911 important details about you and your household in advance, helping responders find you faster and arrive prepared—especially when you can't easily communicate in an emergency.
Public Alert Resources
Snohomish County's Public Alert Resources combine SnoCoAlerts, GovDelivery updates, and Smart911 safety profiles so you get timely warnings, local information, and can give first responders what they need to help you faster.
APCO
SNO911's partnership with APCO International connects our 9-1-1 professionals to leading training, standards, and advocacy in public safety communications, strengthening service quality and resilience for our communities.
IAED
SNO911's partnership with the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) ensures our telecommunicators use evidence-based protocols, receive rigorous certification and continuing education, and deliver consistently high-quality 9-1-1 care to every caller.
NENA — The 9-1-1 Association
NENA is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the development and implementation of enhanced 9-1-1 systems across the United States and Canada, advancing the emergency communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and standards development.
School Programs
School Safety & Community Programs
The School Panic Button program gives school staff a faster, more direct way to reach 911 and alert key campus personnel during an emergency, helping speed response and improve coordination when every second counts. Integrated with Snohomish County 911, it supports a wide range of incidents — from medical emergencies to campus safety threats — so schools, dispatchers, and first responders can act quickly with better information from the start.
Real-World Impact
The School Panic Button program is more than a safety tool — it's a connection between school staff, SNO911, and first responders when every second matters.
In Snohomish County, it has helped schools respond faster to real incidents ranging from gas leaks and medical emergencies to playground injuries, giving staff a direct line to 911 while simultaneously alerting key personnel on campus.
- Gas Leak Response: At North Lake Middle School, the system helped dispatch and school staff coordinate a safe evacuation during a reported natural gas leak, even after the initial caller disconnected.
- Medical Emergencies: The platform has been used to get immediate help during student medical events, allowing school nurses and emergency responders to be notified at the same time.
- Playground Injuries: School leaders have reported everyday use for injuries during recess or lunch, enabling teachers to stay with the child while notifying 911, paramedics, and administrators with one action.
- Multi-district Adoption: What began as a pilot expanded across dozens of campuses and has become a key school safety connection between Snohomish County schools and SNO911.
Responders & Partners
ACCESS FROM ANYWHERE
When first responders enter large, complex, or heavily built structures, their radios must work as reliably as they do elsewhere.
The in-building Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES) extends the Snohomish County 911 radio network indoors, overcoming concrete, steel, and other signal-blocking materials so critical communication is clear when it matters most.
Property owners and vendors design, install, and maintain systems that support safe, effective emergency response within their structures.
SNO911 works with property owners whose ERCES use the Snohomish County 911 radio frequencies to ensure they do not interfere or cause harm to the SNO911 public safety radio system.
Public Records
Board Meeting Records
The SNO911 board meeting agendas and minutes provide a comprehensive overview of the decisions, discussions and actions taken at each Board meeting. These meeting minutes serve as a record of the Board’s proceedings and provide the public with an understanding of the important issues and concerns addressed by the Board.
The agendas and minutes are available in an easily accessible format and are updated on a regular basis to ensure the information remains current and relevant. Stay informed about the operations and activities of Snohomish County 911 with the documents provided here.
— Stories & Media —
SNO911 Stars
Dispatcher & Team Kudos
View All Kudos →
Employee of the Year
Howard
Recognized as the Appointed Employee of the Year for outstanding dedication and impact across SNO911.
Trainer of the Year
Becca
A Certified Training Officer who has gone above and beyond in developing and mentoring new staff.
Call Taker Outstanding Service
Alyssa
Honoring exceptional performance and consistent excellence throughout the year on every call.
Teammate of the Year
Megan
Recognized for positivity, teamwork, and dedication that lifts the entire team every single shift.