Phones are slammed. If you put a blocked storm drain on 911, you slow a swift-water call from a family on a roof.
911 is for people who cannot breathe, water that is trapping someone, fire, or a gas smell you cannot leave. Everything else has another number.
311 is the City of Houston. If you live in unincorporated Harris County, 311 is the wrong desk.
Do this now
- Call 911 if someone is trapped, injured, or you smell gas you cannot walk away from.
- Use City of Houston 311 for city debris, drainage complaints, and non-emergency city services.
- If you are in unincorporated Harris County, use the county non-emergency and OEM channels, not Houston 311.
- Call 211 for shelter, food, and social-service questions.
What belongs on 911
A person in moving water. A child you cannot reach. Chest pain. A downed line on a car with people inside. The hiss of gas in a house you just opened.
Say your address, the closest bayou or feeder if you know it, and whether the water is rising. Stay on the line if they ask.
If you called 911 and the danger passed, say that. Do not vanish and leave a crew hunting.
311, county, and 211
Houston 311 logs street flooding, missing stop signs, and later debris piles. It will not send a boat.
Harris County Precincts and Harris County OEM cover a huge share of the region outside the city line. Check ReadyHarris if you are not sure whose street you are on.
211 is United Way’s line for shelters, food, and casework. Use it when you need a bed or a food pantry, not a rescue.
Verify live. Status changes hourly. Jurisdiction and hold times shift during the event. Confirm whether your address is City of Houston or unincorporated Harris County on ReadyHarris or the city site before you punch 311.
Do this next
- Coast Guard / swift-water rescue: when to dial
- Harris County Flood Control and bayou updates
- Shelters & evacuation hub
More in Who to call right now.