When is National 311 Day?
Saturday March 11thergency services throughout the country on 311 is a resource for communities around the country to connect with their city and non-emergency services. The 311 system is the non-emergency number to call in several cities around the country for residents to report problems, find out about city services, and ask questions.
Non-emergency calls have slowed operators' response times to real emergencies since the introduction of the 911 emergency system. As a way to relieve pressure on the overburdened 911 system, Baltimore, Maryland, first 311 system was installed in 1996. The new technology enabled emergency phone lines to be dispatched and reduced wait times for emergency calls, assisting 911 dispatchers in getting emergency services to people who need them more quickly, ultimately saving lives. In addition, the citizens were encouraged to be the city's eyes and ears by the 311 system, which was also more closely linking the public sector to its citizens.
Citizens call the 311 number to report problems they find in their own towns. Residents' surveys include: Here are some examples of the kinds of reports that people read include:
- graffiti
