Verizon down: Is 911 service affected? Here's what to do as New York City gives update

Amid a nationwide Verizon outage, NYC's emergency notification system alerts users it may affect 911 calls.

Updated on: Jan 15, 2026, 01:24:02 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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New York City's official emergency notification system has provided an update amid nationwide Verizon outage affecting some users trying to reach 911.

New York City's emergency notification system warns that the Verizon outage may affect users' ability to call 911. (Unsplash)

In its update, New York City's official emergency notification system stated in a post on X that if you are a Verizon customer affected by this outage, it could hinder your capacity to call 911 during an emergency.

It recommended users to try to make a call from a landline or an alternative device, or visiting a precinct if you find yourself in an emergency.

“Nationwide @Verizon Wireless Outage: Outage may affect some users trying to call 911. Call using a device from another carrier, a landline, or go to a police/fire station to report emergencies,” NYCEM - Notify NYC stated.

Also Read: Verizon outage map: Which US cities are affected? Here's when will services be restored

Verizon's outage affecting voice, text, and data for cellular customers

The outage is impacting almost all regions of Verizon's cellular service in the affected areas, which include New York, New Jersey, the Carolinas, Texas, and Florida, among others. Please refer to the comments below.

Moreover, it influences voice, text, and data services, with several affected devices showing an SOS icon in place of the standard network bars and 5G/5G UW/4G indicators in the upper corner. For iPhone users with a model 14 or newer, you will be redirected to satellite services, including 'Messages via Satellite'.

Verizon has issued an update, but gave no timeline for a resolution

Verizon provided another update through @VerizonNews on X. Its engineering team continues to investigate the problem and is actively working towards a solution, but no estimate has been given regarding when recovery will take place.

Additionally, Verizon has not disclosed any details about the root cause of the issue.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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