JANESVILLE, Wis. — In the wake of a national cell service outage, the Rock County 911 communication center encountered a surge in non-emergency calls and hang-ups earlier Thursday.

What You Need To Know

  • Dispatcher Emma Townsend emphasized the adaptability of the Rock County 911 center, reassuring the public: "No matter what's going on with the phone systems, we always adapt to it and figure out a way that you can contact us"
  • Rock County Communications Director Fredd Carr expressed concern over the substantial increase in call volume
  • Rock County Emergency Management Director Kevin Wernet urged residents to utilize alternative communication methods during emergencies, emphasizing the importance of conserving emergency resources
  • Despite challenges, the dedication of the Rock County 911 center and local authorities was evident as they diligently logged and investigated every call or text received, ensuring the safety and security of the community

Despite the turmoil, dispatcher Emma Townsend remained steadfast in her commitment to serving the community.

"No matter what's going on with the phone systems, we always adapt to it and figure out a way that you can contact us," she said. "We’re always here for our citizens," she added.

Rock County Communications Center Director Fredd Carr expressed frustration over the increased call volume. He said each call must be logged and investigated and that takes time and resources.

"So that's a bit concerning," Carr said.

Meanwhile, Rock County Emergency Management Director Kevin Wernet issued a high alert memo, sharing the outage news Thursday morning with other partner agencies.  

He said residents should utilize alternative communication methods in emergencies and look to landlines or reach out to neighbors using other service providers. 

Above all, Wernet emphasized the importance of conserving emergency resources.

"That should be saved for the time that you actually need police, fire, EMS," he said.

Related Stories