Statewide 911 and non-emergency phone lines in Louisiana are currently down due to a severed fiber line, prompting officials to provide alternate contact information for residents in need of emergency assistance. The Orleans Parish Communications District is set to hold a press conference at 3 p.m. to share further information on the issue and ongoing efforts to resolve it.
During this outage, residents across various parishes in Louisiana are urged to use specific district phone numbers in case of emergencies. In Orleans Parish, the New Orleans 911 and OPCD emergency numbers are affected. For emergencies, residents can call a temporary number at 504-513-6594. Authorities request that non-emergency calls are postponed until the services are back online.
In Jefferson Parish, emergency services can be accessed by using a landline or directly dialing 504-227-1400. In Kenner, residents are advised to text 911 or call the Jefferson Parish emergency number.
In St. Tammany Parish, residents can reach emergency services through the following district numbers:
– 1st District (Slidell area): 985-726-8000
– 2nd District (Mandeville, Bush, Folsom, Covington): 985-276-1300
– 3rd District (Madisonville & parts of Covington): 985-276-1501
Tangipahoa Parish residents should call 985-747-0911, and anyone receiving a busy signal after dialing 911 will get a return call within seconds from this same number.
St. John the Baptist Parish is experiencing external phone line issues, although their 911 Emergency Center remains operational. For non-emergencies, citizens can reach out via 911 to be transferred to the appropriate department.
Officials emphasize that these alternate numbers should only be used for emergencies as technicians are actively working to restore normal services. While this situation poses challenges, coordinated efforts are being made to maintain efficient communication and ensure the safety and wellbeing of all residents during this unexpected disruption.