911 Outage Disrupts Emergency Calls Across Los Angeles

Callers forced to text 911 or call police stations directly during system failure

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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A widespread 911 outage struck the Los Angeles area on Thursday evening, forcing some callers to text 911 or call police station business lines directly to report emergencies. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed the outage, which impacted the Vesta System, a third-party call-handling platform, and said they were working to restore full 911 service as quickly as possible.

Why it matters

The 911 system is a critical public safety resource, and any disruption can put lives at risk by delaying emergency response. This outage highlights the vulnerability of the system and the need for robust backup plans to ensure continuity of service, especially in a major metropolitan area like Los Angeles.

The details

Shortly after 6 p.m. on Thursday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was notified of the 911 outage, which affected calls within the department's jurisdiction. As a result, 911 calls were being re-routed to patrol station business lines, and some stations encouraged callers to text 911 instead. The department said it deployed electricians to address the issue and was working closely with the third-party telecommunications provider to restore full service.

  • The 911 outage was reported to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department shortly after 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • As of late Thursday night, the West Hollywood Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Stations said that 911 service had been restored.

The players

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

The law enforcement agency responsible for providing emergency response services in parts of Los Angeles County.

Vesta System

A third-party public safety call-handling platform that experienced an outage, impacting 911 calls within the Sheriff's Department's jurisdiction.

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What they’re saying

“We appreciate the community's understanding and want to reassure our residents that we are taking all necessary steps to maintain emergency response services while this issue is being resolved.”

— Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (CBS News)

What’s next

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said it is continuing to work with the third-party telecommunications provider to fully restore 911 service across the affected areas.

The takeaway

This 911 outage in Los Angeles highlights the critical importance of maintaining a reliable and redundant emergency response system, as any disruption can have serious consequences for public safety. It underscores the need for ongoing investment and oversight to ensure the 911 system remains resilient and able to serve the community effectively during times of crisis.