Central Valley 911 Outage: How to Reach Emergency Services in Merced County

• 📌 A widespread 911 outage affected multiple Central Valley counties on Tuesday, including Merced, Madera, and Stanislaus.
• 📌 AT&T fiber cuts caused the disruption; calls are rerouted to neighboring dispatch centers, causing delays.
• 📌 Text-to-911 remains operational in some areas, but voice calls may be delayed; residents are urged to use alternative numbers for emergencies.
• 📌 Cal OES confirmed the outage stems from equipment theft and vandalism, not the Next Generation 911 transition.

A significant 911 service outage disrupted emergency communications across parts of the Central Valley on Tuesday, affecting multiple counties and prompting agencies to issue alternative contact numbers. The outage, attributed to AT&T fiber cuts, has led to rerouted calls and potential delays in emergency response.

Scope of the Outage

The outage impacted law enforcement agencies in Merced, Madera, and Stanislaus counties, including the Merced County Sheriff's Office, Atwater Police Department, and Madera County Sheriff's Office. According to the Merced County Sheriff's Office, 911 and 988 calls are being rerouted to neighboring jurisdictions, but delays are expected.

Agency Responses and Alternatives

Authorities have provided temporary phone numbers for emergencies:

• Atwater Police Department: Call (209) 617-3359.
• Merced Police Department: Call (209) 388-7233 (no texts); text-to-911 is available within city limits.
• Merced County Sheriff's Office: Non-emergency line at (209) 385-7445; text-to-911 not working.
• UC Merced Police Department: Call (209) 382-4418; text-to-911 remains available.

Cal OES Statement

Cal OES stated the outage resulted from equipment theft and vandalism, not the transition to Next Generation 911. Emergency voice calls are being routed to neighboring jurisdictions, while text-to-911 remains operational in unaffected areas.

Local Context: Central Valley Impact

The outage heavily affected the city of Atwater and surrounding areas in Merced County. Residents like Candy Mayor expressed concerns about delayed help during critical situations. Officials emphasized that 911 calls are still answered, but only for true emergencies.

Conclusion

Residents should use the provided alternative numbers for emergencies and avoid testing the system. Service restoration updates are expected from AT&T and local agencies. Stay informed through official channels.

Sources and Materials

• KMPH - 911 service outage reported in parts of the Central Valley
• ABC30 - 911 outage impacts multiple North Valley agencies