Pennsylvania Faces Statewide 911 Outages Amid Ongoing Efforts to Restore Service
Pennsylvania is experiencing intermittent 911 outages statewide, prompting emergency management agencies and the governor's office to work on restoring service.
Overview
- Pennsylvania is currently facing intermittent outages affecting the 911 emergency service statewide.
- Emergency management agencies and the governor's office are actively working to resolve the outages.
- York and Montgomery counties have acknowledged the 911 outages via social media alerts.
- Residents across multiple parts of Pennsylvania have reported receiving alerts about the outages.
- Efforts are underway to restore the 911 service to ensure public safety and emergency response.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the Pennsylvania 911 outages as a significant public safety concern, emphasizing government awareness and response efforts. They convey urgency and accountability, highlighting the need for effective communication and resolution. Implicitly, there is a critique of preparedness and infrastructure reliability, reflecting a cautious stance towards state management.
"The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency confirmed the outages."
ABC News"The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency sent an alert Friday afternoon stating that the state's 911 system is not functioning."
NBC News"The state did not immediately provide information on the cause of the 911 problems or how long they may take to resolve."
USA TODAYArticles (3)
FAQ
The outages are due to an IT issue with a third-party company contracted through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, but the exact source remains unclear as investigations continue.
Residents are advised to call their local 911 center on non-emergency lines or their local police district directly if they can't get through to 911. They should only call 911 for true emergencies and avoid calling just to check if the service is working.
Yes, some counties like York and Montgomery are using social media alerts, and counties are calling residents from local numbers to provide information and emergency contacts during the outage.
Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency have urged residents to stay calm, follow official guidance, and avoid unnecessary 911 calls. State and local officials are working with technical experts to restore service as quickly as possible.
This outage reflects a broader national issue where aging infrastructure and increasing cyberattacks have caused outages in nearly 90% of emergency communication centers across the U.S. in the past year, indicating vulnerabilities in the 911 system.
History
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