If you’ve ever dialed three digits like 911 or 811, you’ve used an N11 number — short, easy-to-remember codes that connect callers to critical public or service hotlines. From reporting an emergency to checking before you dig, these numbers serve specific, often life-saving purposes. But with so many in use, it’s easy to lose track of what each one does — or whether some still work. Here’s a quick rundown of each N11 number and how it’s used today.
911: The original N11
911 is the most well-known N11 number in the United States, with the total number of 911 made annually estimated to be 240 million.
911 was established as an emergency number in 1968. Prior to this, there was no single nationwide number for emergencies. As a result, people had to dial local seven-digit police or fire department numbers in order to receive emergency aid.
The FCC and AT&T (then the national phone provider) worked with Congress to choose a short, easy-to-remember number for all emergency services. 911 was selected because it was quick to dial on rotary phones, never used as an area code or service number, and could be easily routed through existing phone systems. It was a winning formula, and by the 1980s, 911 had become the standard number across most of the country.
The first 911 call occurred on Feb. 16, 1968, in Haleyville, Alabama.
Local emergency services strongly discourage the use of 911 for non-emergency issues, as those calls could delay response to actual emergencies. In many states, knowingly calling 911 for a non-emergency or prank is a misuse of the emergency system and can result in fines, criminal charges and possible civil liability if your call delayed real emergency aid.
211: Community and social services hotline
By the mid-1990s, the idea for a simple, universal number for social services was gaining momentum. At that time, people had to call multiple 10-digit numbers to find help for food, housing or counseling.
On Feb. 11, 1997, the very first 211 system launched in Atlanta, where it was operated by United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. It provided a central hotline for information about community and social services — the model for what 211 would later become nationwide. Three years later, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially designated 211 nationwide for community information and referral services.
Today the number is used to help find housing and shelter, food assistance, financial aid and employment and education resources. It is best to think of 211 as the number to call when you need help meeting basic needs, finding community services, or navigating social support systems — but it’s not an emergency.
311: Local government and city services resource
By the early 1990s, 911 centers were becoming overwhelmed by non-emergency calls. Cities needed a new system to free up 911 for real emergencies, and to make it easier for residents to reach local government without having to hunt for the right department number, essentially “customer service for their city.”
On Oct. 2, 1996, the first 311 system launched in Baltimore, with the goal of reducing the overwhelming number of non-emergency 911 calls by giving residents a clear alternative. The number was a major success as emergency call volume dropped significantly, and response times improved.
Today, 311 is used for reporting the following:
- Public works and maintenance: Potholes, streetlights, graffiti, water leaks
- Sanitation and recycling: Trash pickup schedules, missed collections
- Public safety (non-emergency): Noise complaints, abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping
- Permits and city information: Building permits, parking rules, public records
- Neighborhood services: Animal control, park maintenance, tree trimming
- Community information: Events, transit routes, city contacts
More recently, many 311 systems have added web portals, mobile apps and text services, allowing residents to submit service requests online, track repair progress and upload photos of issues like potholes or graffiti.
411: Directory assistance
Introduced in the 1970s, 411 serves as a directory assistance for phone numbers. Today, its usage has plunged because of alternatives (internet search, smartphones) and business decisions by carriers to eliminate or restrict the service. Its availability now depends on the carrier and service type (landline vs wireless vs VoIP).
511: Traffic and travel information
Launched in 2000, 511 serves as a traffic and travel information number. However, that doesn’t mean every state or carrier continues to maintain a live 511 service. Some have discontinued the phone line, moved the service to web/app, or never fully implemented it. First responders or public safety personnel should not assume 511 will always provide traffic or traveler information in their region — you’ll need to verify locally (state DOT, regional transportation authority) whether 511 is active, what services it offers, and whether it is free or operating differently.
611: Phone company customer service
While 611 is not an officially nationally assigned code by the FCC, it remains a traditionally used code for telephone company repair service. Some carriers and phone companies support 611 for mobile or land-line customers to reach their service provider. Its availability and functionality varies by carrier, service type (landline vs wireless), and region.
711: Telecommunications relay service
711 launched in 1997 as a telecommunications relay service for hearing/speech-impaired users, meaning people with hearing or speech impairments can use it to contact hearing-minded callers (or vice versa) via a communications assistant. Implementation was mandated for all telecommunications carriers (wireline, wireless, payphone) to support 711 access to TRS by Oct. 1, 2001.
811: “Call before you dig”
811 launched nationwide in 2005 as the nationwide code for “One-Call” utility location notification systems under the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. It is known as the “Call Before You Dig” number, as the goal is to help citizens avoid utility damage. While it is nationally assigned, actual availability and awareness still vary by state and local provider. Implementation relies on carriers routing calls properly to the state One-Call centers.
988: Suicide and crisis lifeline number
In 2020, 988 joined the ranks of the N11 numbers despite the fact that its format doesn’t follow the traditional N11 format.
The digits 2-9 had already been used for other N11 numbers, and because the digit 1 was used to signal a long-distance or special call on the old telephone switching systems, it was not an option. Besides the fact that it was short and easy to dial, 988 was also selected because it was not used as an area code in most places.
988 replaced the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK), which had been in place since 2005. Whereas the original Lifeline focused almost entirely on suicidal thoughts or intent, 988 covers a wider spectrum of emotional or mental health crises: severe anxiety or panic, substance use or withdrawal distress, relationship or grief crises, concern for a loved one’s mental safety and emotional distress during disasters or trauma.
988 went nationwide in summer 2022. In the first year (2022–2023), 988 handled over 5 million contacts via calls, texts and chats. And now, some states are also expanding mobile crisis response teams and mental health stabilization centers linked to 988 calls, with the goal being to send counselors instead of police when appropriate.
FireRescue1 is using generative AI to create some content that is edited and fact-checked by our editors.
