Residents in South Dakota, Nevada, and Texas were unable to place emergency 911 calls on Wednesday evening due to outages in the statewide emergency calling systems. The Rapid City Police Department in South Dakota reported that 911 services were down statewide. In Nevada, cities such as Las Vegas experienced widespread outages, with 911 calls from landlines not working. The Las Vegas Police Department advised residents to dial 911 on a mobile device and assured them that they would call back immediately. By 12:15 a.m. on Thursday, the LVMPD announced that 911 phone service had been restored and they had contacted everyone who had attempted to call during the outage. In Texas, multiple cities including Del Rio and Kilgore also experienced outages, with the Del Rio Police Department attributing the issue to a major cellular carrier problem.
In South Dakota, the entire statewide emergency calling system went down, leaving residents unable to access 911 services. The Rapid City Police Department alerted residents to the outage and provided updates on the situation. In Nevada, cities such as Las Vegas were affected by the 911 call outages, with calls from landlines not working. The LVMPD instructed residents to dial 911 on a mobile device, assuring them that they would receive a callback promptly. After the outage was resolved, the city announced that they had reached out to everyone who had attempted to call during the disruption. In Texas, cities like Del Rio and Kilgore also reported outages, with the Del Rio Police Department pointing to a carrier issue as the cause of the problem.
Law enforcement agencies in the affected states used social media to inform residents of the 911 call outages and provide instructions for what to do in case of an emergency. In South Dakota, the Rapid City Police Department shared updates on the situation and advised residents to contact emergency services through alternate means if needed. Similarly, in Nevada, the LVMPD used social media to inform residents about the 911 call outage and provide guidance on how to reach emergency services. In Texas, the Del Rio Police Department and Kilgore Police Department also turned to social media to alert residents of the outages and provide information on how to report emergencies during the service disruption.
Residents in Dundy County, Nebraska, and the surrounding areas also experienced 911 call outages during the same time period, according to a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office. The outage affected multiple states and regions, leaving residents without access to emergency services. In Texas, the Del Rio Police Department attributed the outage to a major cellular carrier problem, rather than an issue with the city’s systems. The Kilgore Police Department reported intermittent outages and instructed residents to call a specific number to report emergencies during the outage. Despite the widespread nature of the outages, law enforcement agencies worked to keep residents informed and provided guidance on how to access emergency services during the disruptions.
The outage of 911 call services in multiple states highlighted the importance of having alternate means of communication in emergencies. Law enforcement agencies in South Dakota, Nevada, and Texas urged residents to call emergency services on their mobile devices if they were unable to reach 911 from a landline. The prompt restoration of 911 phone service in the affected areas alleviated concerns about residents’ ability to access emergency assistance during the outage. The outage served as a reminder of the critical role that 911 services play in ensuring public safety and the need for contingency plans in case of service disruptions. Law enforcement agencies’ use of social media to communicate with residents during the outages demonstrated the importance of leveraging technology to keep the public informed and safe in emergency situations.
