‘Do not get alarmed:’ NC 911 operations receive assistance from other counties

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) – The list of 911 calls across the Upstate and Western North Carolina is extensive.

Several counties in the Carolinas reported outages to their emergency lines after Helene battered several states. Rutherford County is one of them.

As emergency crews continued responding to storm-related calls over the weekend, Rutherford County officials confirmed a 911 outage caused by fiber network issues in the western part of the state. While the report is concerning for many, officials said service is not entirely disrupted for those who need help in the area.

The agency said calls are being rerouted to Harnett County 911. Operators and dispatchers are processing the calls no different than Rutherford County’s agency. Communication lines are open as they are immediately providing up to date information to first responders in the county through radios and phones.

“If you dial 911 and hear someone answer your call stating Harnett County 911, do not get alarmed,” Rutherford County 911 Communications said in a post to reassure residents.

Emergency management, fire departments and EMS continued to respond to calls and assess storm damage on Saturday. Crews said they are working to help people as quickly as they can.

If you are not able to reach the 911 communications center through Harnett County and need immediate assistance in Rutherford County, officials said to call 828-288-3305. This number is temporary until phone lines are back in service.

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