Crime & Safety

Board of County Supervisors Pushes for Investigation Into 911 Failures

The Prince William BOCS has asked Verizon to provide a full report for why the 911 system failed in PWC and other nearby counties.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors has asked Verizon to investigate the after the recent , the county announced today. 

“While we appreciate the efforts Verizon made to get the system back up and running, all efforts should be made to ensure that the critical 911 system does not fail in the future,” BOCS Chairman Corey A. Stewart said. “We expect Verizon to conduct a full investigation into how the 911 service failed and offer solutions to better secure the system. It is imperative that residents of Prince William County and the entire Washington metro area never have to face such emergencies without the critical 911 service that can be the difference between life and death for those in need.”

Verizon's 911 system also failed Maryland residents during the severe snow storms of 2011. Many commuters were unable to contact 911 via their cell phones. 

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"Because this is a regional issue, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors hopes other jurisdictions will join with them in demanding a full investigation and call for solutions into the 911 system failure," the county said in a release. "The County will fully cooperate with other Northern Virginia and National Capital region jurisdictions and Virginia Governor McDonnell’s office in this effort."


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