911 Outages Temporarily Disrupt Emergency Services in Multiple States
On April 17, law enforcement officials in Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, and Texas reported temporary outages to 911 emergency services. These outages prevented some individuals from calling or connecting to 911.
Cause of Outages
Lumen Technologies, a telecommunications company providing enhanced 911 services in several states, stated that workers installing a light pole in Missouri accidentally cut a fiber line, disrupting 911 service for emergency agencies in Nebraska, Nevada, and South Dakota. The outage in Texas had an unrelated cause.
Alternatives for Contacting Emergency Services
During 911 outages, alternative methods for contacting emergency services include:
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Text-to-911:
Available statewide in 19 states, including Arizona, California, North Carolina, and Maryland. If Text-to-911 is not available in your area, you will receive a bounce-back message from your cellphone provider.*
Non-Emergency Numbers:
Save the non-emergency and alternative numbers for your local law enforcement and public safety agencies in your contact list.*
Text Alerts or Social Media Notifications:
Sign up for these notifications from first responders in your area to receive updates on the best way to reach them during a 911 outage.Staying Informed
Most public safety organizations, including your local emergency management office, have emergency alert systems. During a 911 outage, they will typically send out alerts informing the public of alternative contact methods or non-emergency numbers. Monitoring these alerts ensures you have up-to-date information.
Conclusion
911 is the primary method for contacting first responders in emergencies. However, during outages, utilizing alternative contact methods is crucial to ensure access to emergency assistance.
