911 Outage Hits Mississippi and Louisiana: What We Know So Far

911 emergency services went down across Mississippi and Louisiana on Thursday afternoon, leaving millions of residents without direct access to the vital emergency system. The widespread 911 outage was confirmed by state officials and major cities, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans, on September 25, 2025.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said AT&T reported damage to key fiber optic lines, disrupting 911 services. Louisiana officials also confirmed outages in most parishes. The outage began after a major fiber cut at about 1:35 p.m. local time. Authorities said there is no indication of a cyberattack, and crews are working to restore service.

Massive 911 Outage Details and Impact

According to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, AT&T crews are repairing damaged fiber optic lines believed to be the cause of the 911 outage. The problem was first detected shortly after 1 p.m. local time. By midafternoon, officials confirmed that emergency call systems were affected statewide in Mississippi and across Louisiana.

Law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and emergency offices quickly posted alternative phone numbers for residents who needed urgent help. Police in cities such as Baton Rouge and New Orleans urged residents to call local administrative numbers for emergencies until the system is restored. People were also told not to use 911 for non-urgent matters to reduce congestion on backup lines.

Some parishes, including Livingston Parish in Louisiana, reported their 911 systems remained active. Officials there explained that their “Next Generation 911” system uses upgraded technology, replacing the legacy copper wire network with fiber-based infrastructure that was not impacted by the current outage.

In Cameron Parish, officials noted that 911 calls from landlines still worked despite the mobile service disruption. Residents using cellular devices were asked to call local numbers directly.

State emergency offices said the incident appears to be accidental and caused by physical damage to network infrastructure. Louisiana’s Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness stated it is ready to assist local parishes if needed. So far, no requests for extra support have been made.

Public Safety Concerns and Broader Impact

This 911 outage raises concerns about the reliability of emergency systems during infrastructure failures. Both states rely heavily on fiber optic networks to carry emergency calls. A single major fiber cut disrupted entire regions, showing how vulnerable public safety systems can be to physical damage.

Officials reassured the public that crews are actively repairing the damage and expect service to return within hours. Still, the outage left many residents worried about delayed emergency response during critical moments such as medical crises, accidents, or fires.

Authorities also used social media to spread emergency contact numbers quickly, highlighting the growing role of digital platforms when traditional systems fail.

As of Thursday evening, repairs were ongoing and residents in Mississippi and Louisiana were urged to use posted backup phone numbers until the 911 outage is fully resolved.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What caused the 911 outage in Mississippi and Louisiana?

Officials said a major fiber optic line was cut, disrupting the network that carries 911 calls across both states.

Q2: Is the 911 outage due to a cyberattack?

No. State emergency agencies said there is no evidence of a cyberattack. The cause is physical fiber damage.

Q3: How can residents get help during the 911 outage?

Authorities posted local emergency numbers on social media. Landline 911 calls may still work in some areas.

Q4: Which areas still have working 911 service?

Some parishes like Livingston in Louisiana reported no outage because they use Next Generation 911 technology.

Q5: When will the 911 outage be fixed?

Officials expect repairs to restore service within hours, but no exact time was confirmed.