Pennsylvania is currently experiencing a widespread, intermittent outage of its 911 emergency call system, prompting state officials to issue urgent advisories to residents. The disruption, which began around 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 11, 2025, has affected emergency services across the entire commonwealth, according to alerts from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).
Sources indicate that the outage stems from an IT issue involving a third-party company contracted by PEMA. This technical glitch has led to significant challenges in connecting emergency calls, although some calls are reportedly still managing to go through. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency confirmed it is actively collaborating with technical experts to identify and resolve the problem, aiming to restore full service as swiftly as possible. (CBS News Philadelphia, NBC News)
In response to the critical situation, Governor Josh Shapiro has urged Pennsylvanians to remain calm and adhere to the guidance provided by PEMA and local authorities. He emphasized that state officials are fully engaged in addressing the issue. A key message from both the Governor and PEMA is to refrain from calling 911 simply to check if the service is operational, as this action can further congest the already strained emergency lines. (NBC Philadelphia)
For individuals facing genuine emergencies and unable to connect via 911, authorities are directing them to contact their local 911 centers using non-emergency lines. Counties across the state, including Philadelphia, York, Montgomery, Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and others, have acknowledged the outage and are disseminating alternative contact numbers through their social media channels and official websites. For instance, the Philadelphia Police Department has advised residents to continue attempting 911 for emergencies, but to use 311 or their local police district numbers if unsuccessful. (CBS News Philadelphia, FOX43, WTAE)
Residents should also be aware that emergency operators or county officials may initiate follow-up calls from unknown numbers if a 911 call was attempted but did not connect. Therefore, it is advisable to answer calls from unfamiliar numbers during this period, as they might contain crucial information regarding local emergency response contacts. Comprehensive lists of non-emergency numbers for various counties and Philadelphia police districts are being updated and shared by local news outlets and PEMA’s online resources. (CBS News Philadelphia, FOX56)
While county-wide 911 outages have occurred in the past, a statewide disruption of this magnitude is considered unusual. This incident follows a similar, albeit localized, 911 outage in several Florida counties earlier in the week, caused by a cut fiber line. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director, Randy Padfield, was expected to provide a further update on the situation during a news conference on Friday evening. As this remains a developing situation, residents are encouraged to stay informed by checking their local county’s official websites and social media for the most current information and alternative contact methods.
