Cary's 911 Communications Center can now communicate with people via text message.
Supervisor Doug Workman said this option is available for people who can not make a phone call to dispatch.
"This is very useful in a domestic violence situation, where you as the victim would be able to contact the police where you're not having to speak it out," Workman says.
He adds that it also serves people who are deaf and hard of hearing.
But Workman said phone calls are more efficient than texting and provide better location data. This results in faster service.
Durham was one of the first cities in the country to implement the service in 2011. Raleigh's 911 Communications Center is capable of receiving text messages from phone companies Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint.
Workman said more Triangle cities will add 911 texting capability soon.