Article Summary –
Major 911 outages were reported across Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, and Texas, leaving millions unable to contact authorities. Although service was restored by late evening, and there is presently no indication that these outages were caused by a cyberattack or other malicious activity, they did follow a Department of Homeland Security warning about heightened cyberattack risks on 911 services transitioning to internet-based systems. Some of the affected agencies attributed the issue to wireless carriers, while a fiber cut was identified as the cause in Douglas County, Nebraska.
Major 911 Outages Across Four States Cause Distress
On Wednesday evening, law enforcement agencies in Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota and Texas were alarmed by significant 911 outages, leaving millions unable to reach out to first responders. The outages were fixed by late evening, though the cause remains uncertain. This incident follows a recent Department of Homeland Security warning relating to cyberattack risks on 911 services transitioning to online platforms.
While no clear ties have been made to a cyberattack causing these 911 service disruptions, investigations by the Federal Communications Commission and law enforcement are ongoing. Two months earlier, a widespread AT&T outage affected service in multiple states and impacted some 911 calls for hours, attributed to a process error.
Statewide Outages and Emergency Measures
South Dakota experienced a full statewide outage on Wednesday, prompting local law enforcement agencies to offer alternative numbers for emergency services. By about two hours later, the service was restored. Officials from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety suggested texting 911 as a viable alternative during the outage.
In Nevada, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police reported a 911 outage which impacted locals’ ability to get in touch with the police. The calls were functional again by 9 p.m., and all individuals who had called during the outage were contacted back and assisted.
Wireless Carriers Issues
Some agencies identified the problem with wireless carriers. In Nebraska, Sarpy County 911 stated that some wireless carriers were unable to connect to 911, a problem that was resolved approximately three hours later. Del Rio Police in Texas indicated the issue was specifically with T-Mobile’s service, which was reportedly resolved without any serious incidents.
However, the Chase County Sheriff’s Office in Nebraska claimed the 911 service was down for all cellular carriers except T-Mobile. In Douglas County, Nebraska, it was reported that the outage was due to a fiber cut. Lumen, a global communications services provider, confirmed this was the issue but did not disclose the location of the damage.
AT&T clarified that their network was operating normally and that the disruption was not related to the nationwide broadband network for public safety, FirstNet, commissioned by the government and built by the company.
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