1. To stay off the telephone unless you have a critical need to make a telephone call. Remember a FAX or a computer also uses a telephone line and its use may affect your ability to get immediate help in a life-threatening emergency.
   
   
2. DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless you need an emergency response from police, fire or emergency medical personnel.
   
   
3. If you experience other types of problems not related to these emergency services, call the appropriate telephone number for those services.
   
   
4. DO NOT call 9-1-1 unnecessarily. 9-1-1 lines must be kept open for people who have a true emergency.
   
   
5. If you pick up your telephone to make a call and do not hear dial tone, DO NOT HANG UP. Simply wait a few seconds, and you will get dial tone and be able to make your call.
    
6.  Do you have an out-of-area contact? In an emergency, local phone lines could be jammed. If you have a friend or relative to call long distance, you should be able to get through. Your family can leave messages for each other and let people know that you are safe.

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