UPDATE: As of 11 p.m. on Saturday, officials in Ontario County said 911 calls were coming through normally for all customers. They didn’t indicate what prompted the issues, or what the root cause was.
Verizon call issues affect 911 service in Monroe and Ontario counties
Verizon Wireless customers in Monroe and Ontario Counties faced significant challenges in reaching emergency services via phone on Saturday, as reported by local public safety offices. Both the Monroe County Office of Public Safety and the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office have confirmed difficulties with receiving 911 and administrative calls from users of the network.
In response to the ongoing issue, Monroe County authorities have recommended that residents who encounter call failures should hang up and dial again. Alternatives such as text-to-911 and the direct phone line 585-428-6666 are also available for those unable to connect through traditional calls.
Ontario County deputies have similarly advised their residents to use text messaging for contacting 911 in emergencies. For non-urgent communications, the suggested number is 315-789-1111. Both counties are working to resolve the issue and will provide updates as new information becomes available.