211, 311, 411, 511, 811: what every three-digit number does, and which one to call

There are only eight possible three-digit numbers of the "N11" kind, from 211 through 911, which makes them "among the scarcest of numbering resources," the Federal Communications Commission said in a 2000 fact sheet. Most people know 911. The others connect you to everything from a food pantry to a utility locator, and a ninth short code, 988, now reaches a crisis line. Here's what each one is for.

Number	What it's for
211	Local help with food, housing, utilities, and other essentials
311	Non-emergency city services, like streetlights and bulk trash
411	Directory assistance from your phone company
511	Traffic and travel conditions
611	Your phone company's repair service
711	Relay service for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability
811	Call before you dig, to get underground utility lines marked
911	Emergencies: police, fire, and ambulance
988	Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

911 is still the one that matters most. The first 911 call was placed in Haleyville, Alabama, in 1968, but it wasn't until 1999 that Congress directed the FCC to make 911 the universal emergency number. States and territories reported more than 212.9 million voice calls to 911 in 2024, about 71% of them from cell phones, according to the FCC's latest 911 fee report. Texting is growing fast. The 41 states that reported texts to 911 logged 2.24 million of them in 2024, up 89.1% from 2023. But text-to-911 still works only in certain places, and the FCC says you should make a voice call whenever you can.

988 is for a mental health crisis. The FCC designated 988 as the number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in 2020, and it went live on July 16, 2022. Calls go to a network of more than 200 crisis centers backed by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Veterans can press 1, and Spanish speakers can press 2 or text AYUDA, according to the FCC. The line has handled more than 23 million calls, texts, and chats since launch, Pew reported in July. Calls from cell phones now route by where you are, not your area code. The FCC required the big wireless carriers to make that change by January 13, 2025, and smaller carriers have until December 14, 2026. The lifeline's separate option for LGBTQ+ youth ended in July 2025.

211 is for finding help you can't find yourself. Call 211 for "essentials, such as food, shelter, clothing," in the FCC's words. More than 200 local groups run it, including United Ways, according to 211. It reaches 99% of the U.S. population, according to United Way. Its specialists made 19 million referrals in 2025. Our guide to what 211 does has more.

311 is for city problems that aren't emergencies. The FCC first assigned 311 in 1997 for non-emergency police calls. Today it's how many local governments take requests for things like bulk trash pickup, abandoned cars, and streetlight repairs, according to the FCC's N11 guide. Not every city has one. Here's how 311 works where it exists.

511 is for the road. The FCC set aside 511 for travel information on July 21, 2000, the same day it assigned 211. It gives "current information about travel conditions," according to the Federal Highway Administration. If you'd rather look than listen, we also have a guide to checking road closures near you.

811 is for anyone about to dig. The FCC made 811 the national call-before-you-dig number in 2005. It connects you to your state's one-call center, which arranges for utilities to mark their buried lines. The national 811 site says to contact 811 a few days in advance of digging, and the exact waiting period depends on your state. Local laws often require the call, the FCC says.

711 connects relay calls. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability can dial 711 to reach a relay assistant. The FCC calls the service "fast, functional and free." In an emergency, TTY users should call 911 directly instead of going through 711.

411 and 611 belong to your phone company. Carriers use 411 for directory assistance and 611 for repair. Access to 411, 511, and 611 may be limited and may include a fee, depending on your state and phone company, the FCC says.

If someone is in danger right now, call 911. For a suicide or mental health crisis, call or text 988. For utility emergencies like downed power lines or a gas smell, here's who to call.

Sources

• FCC: Nationally assigned 3-digit numbers (N11)
• FCC: N11 codes fact sheet (2000)
• FCC 00-256: Assignment of 211 and 511
• FCC: 911 consumer information
• FCC: 17th Annual 911 Fee Report
• FCC: What you need to know about text-to-911
• FCC: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
• Pew: 4 years later, 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
• CNN via ABC17: 988 ends specialized LGBTQ+ youth service
• 211: About us
• United Way: The facts about 211
• FHWA: About 511
• FCC 05-59: Designation of 811
• 811 Before You Dig
• FCC: 711 Telecommunications Relay Service