RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A widespread 911 outage affected emergency calling services across Riverside County early Thursday, prompting law enforcement agencies to issue public safety alerts and provide alternate numbers for residents unable to reach dispatchers.
Shortly before 6 a.m., residents received an Alert RivCo notification warning of possible disruptions to 911 service and directing callers to an alternate emergency number, 951-776-1078.
"If you have an emergency and cannot get through to 9-1-1, please call 951-776-1078," a Riverside County Sheriff's Department spokesperson said on social media. "It is unknown what caused the outage on the cellular service provider's network, or how long it will last."
The disruption was reported across multiple jurisdictions, including the Coachella Valley, although some cities said their 911 systems remained operational. Authorities reported problems affecting cellular customers on multiple networks, including T-Mobile and AT&T.
Coachella Valley Agencies Report Problems
The Palm Springs Police Department reported the issue shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday.
"We are aware of an issue affecting T-Mobile customers attempting to call 911," police said.
At approximately 3:30 a.m., the Indio Police Department reported an outage affecting its emergency calling system. Residents unable to reach 911 were directed to call 760-775-3730 for police or fire assistance.
Cathedral City police also warned of widespread disruptions affecting multiple agencies.
"The Cathedral City Police Department is advising the public of reported widespread 911 service disruptions affecting multiple agencies throughout the Coachella Valley," Officer Joseph Brooks said in a Thursday news release. "The disruptions have reportedly affected callers using multiple cellular service providers."
Cathedral City residents unable to connect to 911 can call police dispatch at 760-770-0300.
"This number is the department's non-emergency dispatch line and may be used to request assistance if 911 service is unavailable," Brooks said.
In Desert Hot Springs, police reported wireless service disruptions affecting AT&T and T-Mobile customers, although the department's 911 system remained operational Thursday morning. Officials said they were monitoring the situation.
Murrieta, Menifee Systems Remain Operational
Emergency dispatch officials serving Murrieta and Menifee said their 911 systems did not appear to be affected by the regional outage.
"At this time, it seems the outage is only on the county level. Our team is monitoring the 911 system carefully in the event things change," a spokesperson said.
Murrieta residents unable to reach 911 can contact the city's dispatch center at 951-696-3615.
The cause and expected duration of the outage remained unknown Thursday morning.
Residents experiencing difficulty reaching 911 should use the alternate emergency numbers provided by their local agencies and monitor official channels for updates.
"Please reserve emergency phone lines for emergencies only and continue to monitor official sources for updates as services are restored," the Sheriff's Department advised.
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