The United States of America Turns 250 : Discover Its Flag , Great Seal , Dollar , Key Facts and the Emergency Numbers Available in the InfoCons App
On July 4, 2026, the United States of America turns 250 years old. Two and a half centuries after 56 delegates signed their names to a single, revolutionary sentence — that all people are created equal — the country born on that summer day in Philadelphia is preparing for the largest birthday celebration in its history.
The milestone has a name: the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. From coast to coast, cities, museums, mints and communities are marking 250 years of a nation that reshaped the modern world.
This article tells the story behind the number 250 — where it comes from, what it means, and how the country looks today in facts and figures — and closes with something every reader who plans to travel for the celebrations will want in their pocket: a complete, practical guide to emergency and consumer-help numbers across the United States, all gathered in one place in the free InfoCons application.
250 Years in the Making: Why July 4, 2026 Is a Date the World Is Watching
Every nation has a birthday, but few can point to a single document that created them out of words alone. The United States can. The 250th anniversary — the Semiquincentennial — commemorates the day the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. Planning for the national commemoration is coordinated by America250, the congressional, non-partisan United States Semiquincentennial Commission, whose work began back in 2016. The Commission and its state partners have spent years building a program of events, exhibitions and community projects designed to reach all 50 states in the run-up to Independence Day 2026.
The 250th is not only a look back. It is being framed as an invitation to reflect on the ideals set out in 1776 and on the shared future of a diverse country. The Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service and countless local commissions have joined the effort, turning a single anniversary into a years-long conversation about history, identity and citizenship. For travelers, 2026 promises fireworks, parades, historical reenactments and once-in-a-generation museum openings — which is exactly why being well prepared, and knowing where to turn in an emergency, matters more than ever.
1776 and the Birth of a Nation: The Declaration of Independence
The story of the number 250 begins in the sweltering summer of 1776. The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, announcing the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain. The task of drafting it fell to a committee of five: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman. The actual writing was delegated to Jefferson, who composed the statement between June 11 and June 28. Adams and Franklin suggested changes, and Congress debated the text through July 3 and most of July 4 before adopting it that afternoon.
The document was then engrossed on parchment, and on August 2, 1776, delegates began adding their signatures. Its most famous words still echo two and a half centuries later: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Today the original Declaration is preserved at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., where each year thousands gather to hear it read aloud on the steps. The 13 colonies that declared their independence became the first 13 states — and the seed of a nation that would eventually grow to 50.
The United States in Numbers: Population, Economy and Territory
Two hundred and fifty years after independence, the United States is one of the largest and most influential countries on Earth. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the resident population was estimated at 341,784,857 on July 1, 2025 — an increase of about 1.78 million people, or 0.5%, over the previous year. That growth rate was the slowest since the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic, driven largely by a historic decline in net international migration, which fell from 2.7 million to 1.3 million between July 2024 and June 2025. The country is organized into 50 states and a federal district, with its capital in Washington, D.C.
Economically, the United States remains the world's largest national economy. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that nominal gross domestic product reached about $30.76 trillion in 2025, up from roughly $29.3 trillion in 2024. Adjusted for inflation, real GDP grew 2.1% over the year, powered mainly by consumer spending and investment, with especially strong quarters in the middle of the year. Prices, as measured by the PCE price index, rose 2.6% across 2025.
In terms of territory, the United States is vast. Widely cited official reference sources place its total area at roughly 9.83 million square kilometers (about 3.8 million square miles) when territorial waters are included, making it one of the three or four largest countries in the world by area. Its landscapes stretch from the Atlantic seaboard where the nation was born, across the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, to the Pacific coast, and reach far beyond the contiguous states to Alaska in the Arctic north and the tropical islands of Hawaii. This immense scale is part of why a nationwide, easy-to-find directory of emergency numbers is so valuable to residents and visitors alike.
250 Years of the Stars and Stripes: The American Flag
No symbol captures 250 years of American history quite like the flag. The Continental Congress officially approved the first national flag on June 14, 1777 — a date still celebrated as Flag Day. That first Stars and Stripes carried 13 white stars and 13 alternating red and white stripes, one for each of the original colonies. The 1777 resolution declared that “the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation,” but it did not specify how the stars should be arranged, so early flag makers used many different patterns.
As the young republic expanded, the flag expanded with it. The Flag Act of 1794 raised the count to 15 stars and 15 stripes to reflect two new states. The Flag Act of 1818 then set a lasting rule: the stripes would return permanently to 13, honoring the original colonies, while a new star would be added for each state admitted to the Union. The design reached its familiar modern form on July 4, 1960, when the 50th star was added to mark Hawaii's admission the year before. In its 250th year, the 50-star flag — sometimes affectionately called “Old Glory” — stands as a living timeline: 13 stripes for where the country began, 50 stars for what it has become.
250 Years in Your Pocket: The Semiquincentennial Coins
To mark the 250th anniversary, the U.S. Mint is putting history into the change in Americans' pockets. For 2026 the Mint is refreshing the designs of the circulating nickel, dime, quarter and half dollar in honor of the Semiquincentennial. Circulating nickels, dimes and quarters carry the dual date “1776 ~ 2026,” and 2026 coins feature a special Liberty Bell privy mark inscribed with the numeral “250.”
The dime changes for the first time in some 80 years, showing an image of Lady Liberty on the obverse and an eagle carrying arrows on the reverse. Five commemorative quarter designs honor pivotal moments in the American story: the Mayflower Compact, the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Gettysburg Address. In a detail sure to delight collectors, only 250,000 of the Declaration of Independence quarters will be released randomly into circulation, each marked with a special “July 4th” privy mark. The nickel keeps its portrait of Thomas Jefferson but adds the dual anniversary date, and the collectible half dollar receives its first design change since the 1976 Bicentennial. For anyone visiting the United States in 2026, checking your change could turn an ordinary transaction into a small piece of history.
The America250 Logo: A Ribbon That Draws the Number 250
Every great commemoration needs a visual identity, and the Semiquincentennial has a striking one. The official America250 logo features a flowing red, white and blue ribbon that forms the number 250 as a single continuous path. The unbroken line is meant to suggest unity, cooperation and harmony — a nation drawn in one gesture. The dynamic, vibrant icon is paired with the word “America” set in elegant serif lettering, establishing a clear identity for this once-in-a-generation milestone.
The inspiration for the mark comes from red, white and blue ribbons, which signify commemoration, celebration and purpose. The design also includes a flexible system of state-specific logo lockups, so that local and state commissions can identify their own events and programs while remaining part of the single national story. From banners on Main Street to digital screens in museums, the ribbon that spells 250 will be one of the most recognizable images of 2026.
250 at a Glance: Interesting Facts and Symbols of the American Story
Beyond the headline statistics, the 250th anniversary is a chance to appreciate the details that make the American story so distinctive. The Declaration of Independence was the work of a committee of five, but its soaring language was overwhelmingly Jefferson's. Independence was effectively voted on July 2, 1776, yet it is July 4 — the day the final text was adopted — that the nation celebrates. The flag's 13 stripes have never changed since 1818, quietly honoring the original colonies for more than two centuries, even as the field of stars grew from 13 to 50.
The nation that began with roughly 2.5 million people in 13 Atlantic colonies is now home to more than 341 million people across 50 states and a federal district. Its economy, worth about $30.76 trillion, is larger than that of any other single country. Its territory spans multiple time zones, from tropical Pacific islands to Arctic tundra. And in 2026, all of this history is being distilled into a single, elegant symbol — a ribbon that draws the number 250 — and pressed into everyday coins that carry the dual date 1776 ~ 2026. Few anniversaries manage to be at once so grand and so wonderfully tangible.
Traveling for the 250th: The InfoCons App and Its SOS Section
A quarter-of-a-millennium birthday will draw millions of visitors to the United States in 2026, and smart travel means being ready for the unexpected. This is where the free InfoCons application becomes an essential travel companion. InfoCons is the only global consumer-protection app of its kind, available in 33 internationally spoken languages, and it has championed consumer rights since 2003 through its long-running project on useful emergency telephone numbers from around the world. It offers accurate, transparent and independent information designed to help people make good decisions for themselves — at home and abroad.
At the heart of the app is the SOS section: a single, dependable place to find the emergency and essential contact numbers you need, wherever you are. Instead of searching frantically in an unfamiliar country, InfoCons users can open the app and immediately reach the right service — ambulance, fire brigade, police, consumer protection, tourist assistance, child protection, environmental protection and more. The app currently provides emergency numbers for more than 100 countries, all organized so that a traveler can find help in seconds. For the United States, that means the nationwide 911 emergency line plus a full set of national and state-level consumer and safety numbers, described in the next section.
Emergency Numbers in the United States: National Lines and All 50 States
Across the entire United States, the single most important number to remember is 911. It connects callers to police, ambulance and fire services in every state, 24 hours a day. Alongside it, the InfoCons app lists the country's key national help lines: for consumer protection, 202-326-2180; for tourism-related complaints, 311 (with 911 for emergencies); for telecommunications complaints, 800-342-3377; and for public-utility emergencies, 911. These national numbers are the starting point — but because the United States is a federation of 50 states, each state also maintains its own consumer-protection office, utility emergency lines and family-safety hotlines. The InfoCons app gathers them all. Here, in plain text, are the essential numbers for every state.
The 50 states, from A to Z
Alabama. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Services Complaints at 1-800-392-8050 (also 1-800-392-5658). Electricity emergencies: 1-800-888-2726. Gas emergencies: 334-242-5778 (or 911). For the most vulnerable, the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 and the Samariteens helpline at 1-800-252-8336.
Alaska. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 907-269-5200 (or 1-888-576-2529). Electricity emergencies: 1-800-888-2726. Gas emergencies: 907-452-7111. For the most vulnerable, Child abuse reports at 1-800-478-4444.
Arizona. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 602-542-5763 (or 1-800-352-8431). Electricity emergencies: 602-371-7171 / 602-236-8811. Gas emergencies: 602-271-4277. For the most vulnerable, the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
Arkansas. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-482-8982 (or 501-682-2007). Electricity emergencies: 1-800-968-8243. Gas emergencies: 1-800-883-3181. For the most vulnerable, the domestic and sexual violence line at 866-691-7631.
California. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 1-800-835-5247. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-326-2297. Electricity emergencies: 1-800-611-1911. Gas emergencies: 1-800-427-2200. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-540-4000.
Colorado. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Patrol at 303-239-4501. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-222-4444. Electricity emergencies: 303-894-2528. Gas emergencies: 1-800-883-3181. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-844-264-5437.
Connecticut. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 860-896-3200. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-842-2649 (or 860-713-6300). Electricity emergencies: 800-286-2000. Gas emergencies: 866-924-5325. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-842-2288.
Delaware. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police (New Castle) at 302-573-2800. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-220-5424 (or 302-577-8600). Electricity emergencies: 1-800-898-8042. Gas emergencies: 302-454-0317. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-292-9582.
Florida. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the Highway Patrol at 305-234-2240. For consumer issues, contact the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1-800-435-7352. Electricity emergencies: 800-427-7712. Gas emergencies: 800-427-7712. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-962-2873.
Georgia. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the state police at 404-624-7451. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General at 1-800-869-1123. Electricity emergencies: 1-888-891-0938. Gas emergencies: 1-855-216-6306. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-855-422-4453.
Hawaii. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 808-935-3311. For consumer issues, contact the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs at 808-587-4272. Electricity emergencies: 1-855-304-1212 (Oahu). Gas emergencies: 808-526-0066. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 808-832-5300.
Idaho. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 208-884-7000. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General at 208-334-2424 (or 1-800-432-3545). Electricity emergencies: 1-800-488-6151. Gas emergencies: 800-767-1689. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 855-552-5437.
Illinois. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 217-786-7107. For consumer issues, contact the Chicago Division of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection at 312-744-6060. Electricity emergencies: 800-755-5000. Gas emergencies: 800-755-5000. For the most vulnerable, the Department of Children and Family Services at 800-252-2873.
Indiana. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 317-232-8248. For consumer issues, contact the Attorney General Consumer Protection line at 317-232-6330 (or 1-800-382-5516). Electricity emergencies: 317-261-8111. Gas emergencies: 1-800-589-8142. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-800-5556.
Iowa. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 1-800-525-5555. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 515-281-5926 (or 1-888-777-4590). Electricity emergencies: 800-225-4532. Gas emergencies: 800-255-4268. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 515-244-2200.
Kansas. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 785-296-3751 (or 1-800-432-2310). Electricity emergencies: 316-775-4510. Gas emergencies: 888-482-4950. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-922-5330.
Kentucky. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 606-928-6421. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 502-696-5389 (or 1-888-432-9257). Electricity emergencies: 859-209-2065. Gas emergencies: 1-800-432-9515. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 859-225-8879.
Louisiana. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 225-925-6006. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 225-326-6465 (or 1-800-351-4889). Electricity emergencies: 1-800-968-8243. Gas emergencies: 866-322-8667. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-855-452-5437.
Maine. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 1-888-524-7900. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 207-626-8849 (or 1-800-436-2131). Electricity emergencies: 800-696-1000. Gas emergencies: 1-866-900-4460. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-452-1999.
Maryland. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the Terrorism Tip Hotline at 1-800-492-8477. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Mediation at 410-528-8662 (information at 410-576-6550). Electricity emergencies: 877-778-2222. Gas emergencies: 877-778-7798. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-422-4453.
Massachusetts. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 617-727-6780. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 1-888-283-3757 (or 617-727-8400). Electricity emergencies: 800-322-3223. Gas emergencies: 1-866-542-3547. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 800-792-5200.
Michigan. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 800-495-4677. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 517-335-0855. Electricity emergencies: 800-477-5050. Gas emergencies: 800-401-6402. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 855-444-3911.
Minnesota. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Patrol at 507-344-2750. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 1-800-657-3787 (or 612-673-2080). Electricity emergencies: 1-800-307-6937. Gas emergencies: 800-889-4970. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-422-4453.
Mississippi. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the Highway Safety Patrol at 601-987-1212. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 1-800-281-4418 (or 601-359-4230). Electricity emergencies: 1-800-487-3275. Gas emergencies: 888-876-5786. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-422-4453.
Missouri. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the Highway Safety Patrol at 573-751-3313. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 1-800-392-8222 (or 573-751-3321). Electricity emergencies: 800-552-7583. Gas emergencies: 800-887-4173. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-392-3738.
Montana. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the Highway Patrol at 855-647-3777. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 1-800-481-6896 (or 406-444-4500). Electricity emergencies: 800-638-3278. Gas emergencies: 800-638-3278. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 866-820-5437.
Nebraska. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Patrol at 402-471-4545. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 1-800-727-6432 (or 402-471-2682). Electricity emergencies: 402-554-7777. Gas emergencies: 402-554-7777. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 800-652-1999.
Nevada. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the Highway Patrol at 775-687-5300. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 1-844-594-7275 (or 702-486-2750). Electricity emergencies: 800-962-0399. Gas emergencies: 775-834-4100. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-833-803-1183.
New Hampshire. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Patrol at 603-223-4381. For consumer issues, contact the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection at 1-888-468-4454 (or 603-271-3643). Electricity emergencies: 1-855-349-9455. Gas emergencies: 1-855-327-7758. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 800-894-5533.
New Jersey. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 609-882-2000. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-242-5846 (or 973-504-6200). Electricity emergencies: 1-800-833-7476. Gas emergencies: 1-800-427-5325. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-877-652-2873.
New Mexico. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 505-841-9256. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-844-255-9210. Electricity emergencies: 888-342-5766. Gas emergencies: 1-888-664-2726. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-855-333-7233.
New York. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 1-800-842-2233. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-697-1220 (or 518-474-8583). Electricity emergencies: 1-888-982-4929. Gas emergencies: 1-800-572-1121. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-342-3720.
North Carolina. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the Highway Patrol at 919-733-7952. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-877-566-7226 (or 919-716-6000). Electricity emergencies: 866-366-4357. Gas emergencies: 877-776-2427. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 919-829-8009.
North Dakota. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the Highway Patrol at 800-773-3259. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-472-2600 (or 701-328-3404). Electricity emergencies: 800-638-3278. Gas emergencies: 701-328-8100. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-833-958-3500.
Ohio. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the Highway Patrol at 614-466-2660. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-282-0515 (or 614-466-4986). Electricity emergencies: 800-672-2231. Gas emergencies: 877-542-2630. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 855-642-4453.
Oklahoma. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the Highway Patrol at 405-425-2285. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 405-521-3921 (or 918-581-2885). Electricity emergencies: 888-216-3523. Gas emergencies: 800-458-4251. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-522-3511.
Oregon. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 800-442-0776. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-877-877-9392. Electricity emergencies: 800-522-2404. Gas emergencies: 1-800-743-5000. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-855-503-7233.
Pennsylvania. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 1-866-771-3170. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555 (or 717-787-3391). Electricity emergencies: 800-276-2722. Gas emergencies: 1-800-400-4271. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-932-0313.
Rhode Island. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 401-444-1000. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 401-274-4400. Electricity emergencies: 1-855-743-1102. Gas emergencies: 1-800-640-1595. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-855-503-7233.
South Carolina. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the Highway Patrol at 803-896-7920. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-922-1594 (or 803-734-4200). Electricity emergencies: 800-815-0083. Gas emergencies: 800-815-0083. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-888-227-3487.
South Dakota. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 1-800-472-2121. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-300-1986 (or 605-773-6585). Electricity emergencies: 888-890-5554. Gas emergencies: 888-933-9743. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 877-244-0864.
Tennessee. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 615-862-8600. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 615-741-4737 (or 615-741-1671). Electricity emergencies: 1-877-777-9111. Gas emergencies: 931-526-9591. For the most vulnerable, the Poison and family safety line at 615-741-2904.
Texas. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 512-424-2000. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-621-0508 (or 512-463-2185). Electricity emergencies: 1-800-968-8243. Gas emergencies: 1-800-959-5325. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-252-5400.
Utah. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 801-284-5520. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-244-4636 (or 801-530-6601). Electricity emergencies: 1-877-508-5088. Gas emergencies: 800-767-1689. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-855-323-3237.
Vermont. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 802-244-8727. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-649-2424 (or 802-656-3183). Electricity emergencies: 802-865-7300. Gas emergencies: 1-800-639-8081. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-649-5285.
Virginia. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 800-582-8350. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-552-9963 (or 804-786-2042). Electricity emergencies: 866-366-4357. Gas emergencies: 1-877-572-3342. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-552-7096.
Washington. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 253-538-3240. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-551-4636 (or 360-753-6200). Electricity emergencies: 1-877-737-2662. Gas emergencies: 844-927-4427. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-866-363-4276.
West Virginia. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 304-746-2100. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-368-8808 (or 304-558-8986). Electricity emergencies: 800-956-4237. Gas emergencies: 800-642-3074. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-352-6513.
Wisconsin. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the State Police at 844-847-1234. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-998-0700 (or 608-224-5012). Electricity emergencies: 800-450-7240. Gas emergencies: 800-450-7280. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 1-800-422-4453.
Wyoming. 911 covers police, ambulance and firefighters. Reach the Highway Patrol at 307-777-4755. For consumer issues, contact Consumer Protection at 1-800-438-5799 (or 307-777-8962). Electricity emergencies: 307-777-7767. Gas emergencies: 1-800-799-6427. For the most vulnerable, Child Abuse at 800-422-4453.
Wherever you are in the country, the pattern is the same: dial 911 first for any life-threatening emergency, then turn to the state-specific consumer, utility and family-safety lines above for everything else. Having all of these numbers in one place — inside the InfoCons app — means you never have to guess.
The InfoCons Travel Passport: Your Companion in Over 100 Countries
The same qualities that make InfoCons useful for a trip to the United States make it a genuine travel passport for the whole world. The application works like a pocket guide to safety: for each of the more than 100 countries it covers, it presents the local emergency and essential numbers in both English and the country's own language, so a traveler always knows how to call for an ambulance, reach the fire brigade, contact the police, or find consumer and tourist assistance — even in a place whose language they do not speak.
Think of it as a passport that never expires and never needs a stamp: one free download that travels with you from country to country, always ready with the right number for the right moment. For families, it offers the reassurance of quick access to child-protection and health lines; for independent travelers, it means never being caught unprepared in an unfamiliar city. As the United States celebrates 250 years of independence and welcomes the world to join the festivities, the InfoCons app is the quiet, dependable companion that lets visitors focus on the fireworks — knowing that, whatever happens, help is only a tap away.
Downloading the InfoCons App before you travel in 2026 is one of the simplest ways to celebrate safely. Two hundred and fifty years after a handful of words changed the world, the best way to honor that legacy of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness may simply be to enjoy the journey — well informed, well prepared and well protected.
InfoCons Communication Department