Changing to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) could cost you your life, your loved ones lives or even your home. Before you switch your phone, here are some things you should know. 

Things that the Pevely/Herculaneum Communications Center asks that you do when you move or get a new VoIP service:

• Register your new location, and phone number.

• Keep the address and phone number next to the phone for the nights a babysitter might being staying at the house.

• DO NOT HANG UP! If your address and call back phone number are not listed during the 9-1-1 call it could take up to two hours for help to get to you.

• Keep a "traditional" phone plugged into a phone outlet. Even though your "traditional" phone line has been disconnected, you can still call 9-1-1.

If the top of this article has not convinced you to not switch to a VoIP then taken into consideration of these 9-1-1 calls:

• A family moved from Texas to the local area. They didn't re-register their new location with their VoIP. A fire started in the basement and the homeowner called 9-1-1. The 9-1-1 call went to Texas (where the phone was last registered). It was up to 30 minutes before the communications center in Texas was able to verify their new location and notify the local communications center. During this 30 minutes a neighbor had also called 9-1-1 and was able to get help to the homeowner because of their "traditional" phone.

• A person called 9-1-1 and requested an ambulance, during the transfer to the correct ambulance district the caller hung up. It took the communications center 45 minutes to track down the address of the person who needed help because their address and phone number did not appear to the 9-1-1 call taker.

• A person called 9-1-1 needing the police department because they had been assaulted. They no longer lived at the registered address that appeared to the
  9-1-1 call taker. They had to be given the non-emergency number to the police department where they were at because the communications center was unable to transfer the caller to the correct police department.

• The 911 service for a "traditional" phone gives us your name, home phone number and address. VoIP phones may not provide 911 service. With the VoIP you must register your location with your VoIP provider when you first purchase the system. Then each time you move you must re-register your location. If the caller is unable to speak, help may not be sent if a address does not appear to the communications center.

• Some VoIP providers do not allow you to access 9-1-1 services from your VoIP phone. VoIP providers have sent messages during a 9-1-1 call that states "Stop. You must dial 9-1-1 from another telephone. Nine-one-one is not available from this telephone line. No emergency personnel will be dispatched. Please hang-up and dial 9-1-1 from a different phone." (This message was heard by a teenager who attempted to call 9-1-1 from every VoIP phone in her home as her parents were shot by intruders in Texas.)

• Even if your VoIP provider allows your 9-1-1 call to reach a Emergency Communications Center, it might not be the correct Emergency Center. Or your 9-1-1 call could go to your providers Emergency Center who will then notify the correct police, ambulance or fire department. This is costing valuable time to get the help you need!

• During power outages, a corded "traditional" phone will usually keep working. VoIP phones attached to your computer will not keep working without a UPS (uninterrupted power supply or battery backup). This also applies for if your providers service if it has gone out of service due to a power outage.