Emergency 911 Services Fail Across Mississippi and Louisiana

On September 25, 2025, emergency 911 services were disrupted across both Mississippi and Louisiana, leaving many residents unable to access critical assistance. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reported that damage to AT&T’s fiber optic lines was the cause of the outage, severely affecting emergency response capabilities throughout the state.

Extent of the Outage

In Louisiana, major cities including Baton Rouge and New Orleans experienced similar failures in their emergency lines. The Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness confirmed the widespread impact, stating that “most parishes in the state are being affected by the outage,” according to Mike Steele, a spokesperson for the agency. Authorities are currently assessing the situation, with AT&T dispatching crews to conduct repairs.

“We are aware of service issues for some customers in areas of Mississippi and Louisiana,” an AT&T representative stated in an email. “Additional information will be provided as soon as it’s available.” In the meantime, law enforcement agencies in both states have taken to social media to advise residents to use local phone numbers for emergencies.

Local Response and Alternative Solutions

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed on social media that both their 911 and non-emergency lines were down. The Emergency Communications Center in New Orleans attributed the outage to the cutting of a 911 fiber line. Residents in southwest Louisiana are being especially cautioned; the Cameron Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness advised individuals using cellular devices to contact local numbers due to the extensive phone outage, while assuring that calls to 911 via landline would still connect.

Some areas have retained operational 911 services. For instance, the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that their 911 line remains functional, utilizing a “Next Generation 911” system, which offers a modern alternative to the traditional copper wire technology.

As the situation unfolds, residents in affected areas are urged to stay informed through official channels and social media, where law enforcement agencies have posted alternative emergency service numbers. The full restoration of 911 services remains a priority for state officials as they work to resolve the ongoing issues.