Recent failures of 911 systems and cell networks in the US have highlighted the vulnerabilities and lack of resilience in the emergency communication infrastructure. Here are the key points:
Massachusetts 911 System Outage on June 19, 2024
The entire 911 emergency system in Massachusetts collapsed for around 2 hours on June 19, 2024.[6]
During the outage, no calls to 911 could be received, although operators could see the numbers of those attempting to call.
The cause was identified as a firewall intended for cybersecurity that inadvertently blocked incoming 911 calls. It was not due to an actual cyberattack.
In the previous year, over 3.2 million calls were made to 911 in Massachusetts, averaging 367 calls per hour, highlighting the potential impact of the disruption.
Officials urged residents to contact local authorities directly or visit nearby fire stations during the outage.
The Massachusetts State 911 Department is investigating to prevent future occurrences and improve system resilience.[6]
The widespread 911 outage in Massachusetts was the most recent major incident. The failure underscored the vulnerabilities in the emergency communication infrastructure and the need for improved redundancy and resilience.[6]
Multi-state 911 Outage in April 2024
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