Law enforcement agencies in four states, including Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, and Texas, experienced major 911 outages late Wednesday. While most of the outages were restored by the late evening, officials have not provided details on the cause of the disruptions. The outages occurred shortly after the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning about heightened cyberattack risks on 911 services as they transition to internet-based systems. This comes after a recent AT&T outage that impacted calls to 911 for hours across multiple states. Local law enforcement agencies in South Dakota reported a full statewide outage, but service was restored within a few hours. Additionally, the South Dakota Department of Public Safety suggested texting 911 as an alternative means of contacting authorities in some locations.
In Nevada, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced a 911 outage around 7 p.m. local time, affecting the ability to contact law enforcement through landlines. However, calls from mobile devices were still being received and dispatch was able to call back those individuals. By 9 p.m., normal 911 service had been restored, and all individuals who called during the outage were contacted and provided assistance. In Nebraska, the Chase County Sheriff’s Office reported a statewide 911 outage for all cellular carriers except T-Mobile. Landlines were still functioning for emergency calls. The Del Rio Police in Texas identified the issue as being with the carrier and not their own city systems, indicating that the outage was not localized to a particular region.
The Federal Communications Commission indicated that they were aware of the 911-related outages and were conducting an investigation into the matter. The recent outages underscore the potential vulnerabilities of transitioning 911 services to internet-based systems and the importance of maintaining backup communication channels in case of disruptions. As law enforcement agencies work to address and resolve these issues, alternative means of contacting authorities, such as texting 911 or using mobile devices, may be recommended during outages. It is crucial for agencies to have contingency plans in place to ensure that individuals can still reach emergency services when traditional phone systems fail.
While the specific cause of the recent 911 outages remains unknown, the incidents serve as a reminder of the critical role that 911 services play in public safety and the importance of ensuring the reliability and availability of these systems. As the Department of Homeland Security continues to warn about cyberattack risks on 911 services, law enforcement agencies will need to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their communication networks. Collaborating with telecommunications providers and other relevant stakeholders to identify vulnerabilities and implement robust cybersecurity measures will be essential to preventing future disruptions and maintaining the integrity of emergency response systems. By addressing these challenges, authorities can better protect the public and ensure that individuals can access help when needed.
