911 disruptions reported in several US states
Officials in several U.S. states, including Alaska, Virginia and Iowa, have warned of problems with 911 calls in their areas.
The Alaska State Troopers warned that many 911 and non-emergency call centers across the state are not functioning properly and shared alternative numbers for areas where 911 is not working.
The Fairfax, Virginia, Police Department announced on social media that they were experiencing technical issues with their phone system, including 911. Police advised callers of non-emergency numbers and said 911 would still work, but calls would not go directly through to a dispatch center.
The New Hampshire Department of Emergency Services and Communications reported a brief interruption early Friday morning. At about 1 a.m., New Hampshire 911 dispatchers reported they were unable to answer incoming 911 calls that were visible on their computer system, the department said in a news release. Calls that could not be answered were returned to ensure they received the assistance they needed. By 3:30 a.m., 911 calls and texts were being received on the backup system, and the system had been fully restored, officials said.
In Iowa, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office warned on social media that phone lines were down. The department said 911 calls could be redirected to neighboring counties, but emergency calls would be immediately transferred to the sheriff’s office.
