For a lot of people in major cities, the 311 app is going to be very beneficial. All a person needs to do is download the application for their specific city, and they will be able to reach the government for non-emergency services.
Everyone pretty much knows about 911 and what it is used for. Reserved for emergencies only, it makes no sense to clog up the lines for something that is really not all that urgent. Instead, the 311 number is going to provide a direct link to people and the services provided by the city.
There is still the option to call the number whenever needed, but the 311 app is going to provide additional services as well. Not only is it a good resource for people who are looking for general answers to questions, but it can also be used to make sure the people can pick up all information based off of previous questions asked by others.
There is also likely going to be a link to start a chat and talk with people who can help out. It really just comes down to what a person needs and how they want to access information.
Just about all the major cities have 311 in service as a number, but only a few top ones have an actual application for people to download. It is still a work in progress in some locations, but the good news is that there is a pretty good blueprint out there for them to follow. As long as everything is set up to be as smooth as possible, information can be gathered without having to go through a lot of hoops to get there.
This number is designed for both permanent residents and visitors who just want a little bit of assistance. Some people actually prefer to download these applications when they are visiting in the city so that they can get some information at a moments notice. It is also good to use if something is spotted that seems out of the ordinary.
If there is an actual emergency, there is always the option to call 911. Nobody should feel like they should completely ignore this number because it is not a matter of life and death. Some emergencies just need this number, while others will be better suited with 311. Just having an application account on is going to give people peace of mind.