![Vendor Blamed for 911 Outage in 3 States](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2018/03/Fire-Truck.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Vendor Blamed for 911 Outage in 3 States
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Officials in Minnesota say a third-party vendor performing work on a 911 system caused a widespread service failure in Minnesota, and that the outage affected North Dakota and North Carolina too.
Several cities and counties scrambled to broadcast backup emergency phone numbers during the hour-long outage Wednesday afternoon. Telecommunications company CenturyLink, which operates 911 networks in the three states, said Thursday it's investigating the causes.
Dana Wahlberg, director of Minnesota's Emergency Communications Networks, says some callers were still able to reach emergency services during the interruption. The department is reviewing how many emergency centers were affected.
CenturyLink Spokesman Frank Tutalo says a third-party vendor's work affected service. He did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the vendor and the scope of the outage.
More From AM 1240 WJON
![Three People Hurt In Crash In Rice On Friday](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/12/State-Patrol-Stock-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Hormel Seeking Nominations for 10 Under 20 Heroes](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/04/attachment-MicrosoftTeams-image-18.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Murphy Named New Principal For Clearview Elementary](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2016/07/clearview-elementary1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Fishing is Good in MN; Where to Fish is the Challenge](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/10/attachment-Glen-Schmitt-taken-by-Ben-Schmitt-edit.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Strong Turnout At 1st Annual Spearfishing Decoy Show](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/12/attachment-DSC01510.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Want To Own Your Own Movie Theater? That Chance Awaits You In Hutchinson!](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2023/07/attachment-Jenna-Vikse-via-Jenna-Vikse-Real-Estate.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![This Oddly Named Minneapolis Business Is Really An Artists Dream World](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2023/01/attachment-Image-Credit-Google-Maps.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Minnesota Governor Promotes Mask Drive to Slow Virus Spread](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/04/Coronavirus1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Rochester Police Investigating Homicide](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/02/Crime-tape.jpg?w=980&q=75)