News briefing · Published
Verizon outage and 911: how to get help when your carrier is down
What should I do if my phone carrier is down and I need to call 911?
If your phone carrier goes down, try a phone on a different carrier or a landline, and text 911 where your local center supports it. The FCC is asking how the January 14, 2026 Verizon outage affected 911. Keep a paper list of emergency numbers and a meeting point at home.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says a nationwide Verizon outage on January 14, 2026 lasted at least ten hours and affected millions of customers.
What happened
The FCC says many phones showed SOS mode during the outage. It opened an inquiry, PS Docket No. 26-21, asking how the outage affected 911, with comments due March 16, 2026. Downdetector reports peaked above 175,000 around 12:30 p.m. ET, according to Fortune. A separate Verizon disruption on April 7, 2026 was called brief by Verizon, which said an internal review found no impacts to 911 in the area, according to the Bainbridge Island Review.
What it means for your home
When one carrier fails, a phone on a different carrier, or a landline, may still connect. Knowing this before an emergency can save precious time.
What to do this week
- Find out which carrier each adult and older child uses, and keep one phone on a different carrier if you can.
- Check whether your local 911 center accepts text messages, and write the answer on paper.
- Post your emergency numbers and a family meeting point on the fridge and in your wallet.
- Keep a landline or a spare phone charged for emergencies.
- Practice how to send a text to 911 with the whole family once.
For a plan that works without phone service, read Communicate when phones are down.
Sources
This briefing is general information, not medical, legal or electrical advice. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.