Let it be known that the people of Waterloo, Iowa won't accept defeat--but they will accept emergency text messages. A call center in that city became the first in the country to accept SMSs sent to 911.

"I think there's a need to get out front and get this technology available," the county's police chief Thomas Jennings told the AP.

Other call centers are apparently looking to follow suit. Texting is especially beneficial to the deaf and hard of hearing. For the time being, however, the service is limited to users of the local T-Mobile affiliate i wireless. The center is reportedly looking to expand to service to other carriers in the area.