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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A new milestone has been reached that will create new ways for North Dakotan’s to reach 9-1-1, including texting.

The North Dakota Counties (NDACo) has been contracted to begin transition to the digital “Next Generation 9-1-1” system. The new system will allow users to send text messages to dispatchers. Callers will even be able to transmit digital data such as video or photos. County costs are also expected to decrease by several thousand dollars per year once the network is in place.

The new system will also be beneficial to deaf and hearing impaired people, allowing them to communicate with the new technology. Currently, over 70 percent of the 250,000 9-1-1 calls made in North Dakota each year are from cell phones. Wireless carriers say nationwide availability of text-to-9-1-1 will be in place in 2014.