911 outages in 4 states leave millions without way to call authorities

Law enforcement agencies across four states were left scrambling following reports of major 911 outages that saw millions unable to contact authorities late Wednesday.

Many of the outages — reported in Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas and Nevada — were restored by the late evening. While officials haven’t said precisely what caused the outages, they come on the heels of the Department of Homeland Security warning of heightened cyber attack risks on 911 services as they moved to internet-based systems.

Local law enforcement agencies reported a full statewide in South Dakota shortly before 7 p.m. local time (9 p.m. ET). Rapid City police offered locals alternative phone numbers to call for first responders, and service was restored about two hours later. 

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety said Wednesday evening that “texting to 9-1-1 is operating in most locations” was an option to contact authorities.

In Nevada, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said around 7 p.m. local time (10 p.m. ET) that “there is a 911 outage impacting your ability to contact us right now.” Locals were urged to dial 911 on mobile devices, which dispatch was able to see and call back, and said calls from landlines “are NOT working at the moment.”

Calls were working again by 9 p.m. (midnight ET). “All of the individuals who called during the outage have been called back and provided assistance,” the department said. 

In Nebraska, the Chase County Sheriff’s Office said “911 is down across the State of Nebraska” for all cellular carriers except T-Mobile, and landlines were able to still get through to 911.

Del Rio Police in Texas said when announcing their outage that “this issue is with the carrier and not the City of Del Rio systems.”

NBC News has reached out to major cellphone carriers and the Federal Communications Commission for comment on the issue.