Austin 9-1-1 down amid system repairs; historic inequality leaves citizens vulnerable.

#Austin911Fails: Austintonians Demand Answers as 9-1-1 Falters

URL: Austin 9-1-1 experiences technical difficulties Sunday evening

"It is unacceptable that our community's Emergency Response System has failed them when they needed it most."

Breaking News: The city of Austin admitted to "technical difficulties" with its 9-1-1 system around 5 p.m. Sunday, affecting emergency responses. While calls are still going through, issues with audio, location services, and call transfers to neighboring jurisdictions endanger lives.

Official Response:

The city downplayed the issue, stating it wasn't a "complete outage," but acknowledged the following issues:

• Audio problems, with callers and 9-1-1 dispatch struggling to hear each other.
• Automatic location information failures, hindering emergency responses.
• Calls being transferred to neighboring jurisdictions.

Community Impact:

Austintonians are outraged, demanding answers and accountability. With a history of 9-1-1 failures, the community fears for its safety, especially those in marginalized communities who are disproportionately affected by such failures.

One resident, Maria Gonzales, said, "How am I supposed to feel safe when 9-1-1 might not even work? What if it had been a fire or a break-in? We're paying taxes for these services. It's just not good enough."

Action Steps:

The city advised those facing life-threatening emergencies or struggling to connect with 9-1-1 to call 3-1-1 or (512) 974-2000. However, many are concerned that this workaround isn't enough, especially for those with limited phone access or in urgent situations.

Demanding Change:

Activists and community leaders are calling for an immediate investigation and transparent reporting on the issue. They demand accountability and swift action to prevent future failures. One activist, Jay Simmons, stated, "This isn't the first time, and we won't let it be swept under the rug. We need change, and we need it now. #AustinDeservesBetter."

URLs:

• Original Article: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin-911-experiencing-technical-difficulties-city-says/
• Austin 9-1-1 Official Statement: https://www.austintexas.gov/news/update-on-9-1-1- CALL issues/

#Unacceptable #Austin911Fail #DemandChange