NEEDHAM, Mass. – After a major statewide outage, Massachusetts officials have confirmed that the 911 system is now fully operational. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security made the announcement on social media, informing the public that they can resume using 911 for emergencies. The department is currently investigating the cause of the disruption and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Earlier in the day, emergency dispatchers across Massachusetts were impacted by the outage, prompting state officials to send out emergency alerts to cellphones. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu acknowledged the issue, stating that calls were not going through and that efforts were being made to resolve the situation with state and relevant officials. Despite the 911 system being down, internal communications within the city of Boston were functioning normally, ensuring that departments could still coordinate responses to emergencies.
Boston EMS Commissioner James Hooley highlighted the seamless communication system that allows different agencies to collaborate effectively during emergencies. The Brockton Fire Department also issued a statement acknowledging the outage and encouraged residents to use alternative methods, such as fire alarm boxes or direct lines, to reach emergency services. Similarly, Brookline officials advised against testing the 911 system, emphasizing the importance of not tying up lines meant for legitimate emergency calls.
Fire boxes in Boston, operating independently of the telephone system, serve as reliable tools for triggering alerts through Morse code. While the recent outage was resolved promptly, Massachusetts has experienced sporadic 911 outages in the past, often attributed to issues with telecommunication providers. By addressing the challenges faced during this outage, emergency services can better prepare for and mitigate similar disruptions in the future.