JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — According to an AT&T representative, 911 systems in both Mississippi and Louisiana are operational again after experiencing outages on Thursday afternoon.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency indicated that some of AT&T’s fiber optic lines had been damaged, impacting 911 services statewide. Similarly, emergency phone lines in Louisiana, including those in major cities such as Baton Rouge and New Orleans, were also down for a period on Thursday afternoon.
“We understand how important these services are and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience,” an AT&T spokesperson wrote in an email.
The outage reports began appearing around 2 p.m. local time in Mississippi, but by 4:45 p.m., AT&T confirmed that service had been restored.
Karl Fasold, the executive director of Orleans Communication District, informed The AP that the issue was being resolved after what he called an “accidental fiber cut.”
Law enforcement agencies across both states took to social media, urging people to call local phone numbers if they were experiencing an emergency.
Mike Steele, a spokesperson for the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, mentioned that the agency “stands ready for any support requests, though none have been made by local parishes at this time.”
“Nothing I’ve seen indicates a cyberattack,” Steele said.
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office also reported its 911 and non-emergency lines “are down” according to an X post.
The Emergency Communications Center for New Orleans said on their social media page that the outage was due to the cutting of a 911 “fiber line.”
Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards said most parishes in the state were affected by the outage.
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office also reported its 911 and non-emergency lines “are down” according to an X post.
In southwestern Louisiana, the Cameron Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness advised individuals using cell phones to call a local number for emergencies due to a “significant phone outage.” However, the agency assured that 911 calls made via landlines would still connect.
Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office is one agency where their 911 line was still operational. The department said in a statement that they use the “Next Generation 911” system – which is a “complete overhaul” of the current system, replacing “legacy copper wire technology.”
