When El Pasoans in distress dial 911, they can ask for help in English, Spanish or both. To better serve the predominantly Hispanic region, the city has required its 911 call-takers to understand — and clearly and concisely speak — both languages since 1989.

“When we answer the phone, we need to be able to understand what the emergency is and ask the appropriate questions to get them the help they need,” said Monica Puga, manager of human resources for the city’s fire department.

In an increasingly diverse state that is already majority-minority, El Paso’s bilingual requirement is apparently unique.

State officials, 911 organizations and other stakeholders were unable to identify another Texas city or county that requires call takers to be fluent in English and Spanish. But as the state’s demographics lean toward a multilanguage speaking population, some big cities are attempting to manage an increased demand for bilingual 911 call-takers.

The highest need likely is found along the border and in urban cores like Houston and Dallas with high rates of foreign-born immigrants unlikely to be fluent English speakers, state demographer Lloyd Potter said.

Harris County — home to Houston — and Dallas County have seen explosive Hispanic population growth in the last five years. But the two urban cores are also home to large foreign-born populations that primarily speak foreign languages other than Spanish.

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