[Update: Oct. 31, 2025, 1:15pm] Service to 9-1-1 was restored to AT&T wireless customers on Friday around 1 p.m., a company spokesperson reported, stating that the outage since the previous day was “caused by fiber cuts.” The spokesperson wrote in an email, “We appreciate the patience of our customers and apologize for the inconvenience,” did not disclose where the breaks occurred. The outage extended across a number of states, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department posted on X on October 30.
[Original Story] The emergency number 9-1-1 is out of commission for AT&T cellular customers, the City of Santa Barbara Police Department announced around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 30. The reason for and length of the outage are both unknown currently.
Instead of dialing 9-1-1, use text to send a message to 9-1-1, the police suggest. Alternatively, use a land line or a cell phone that is served by a different carrier. Last, callers can dial (805) 882-8900 to reach the police department’s non-emergency number.
The extent of the outage geographically goes beyond the City of Santa Barbara and into areas of the county, Jackie Ruiz, public information officer for the Office of Emergency Management confirmed. As yet, the exact areas are unknown.
In county areas served by the Sheriff’s Office, texting to 9-1-1 will also work. The alternative to calling 9-1-1 is (805) 683-2724, which is normally the non-emergency dispatch number.
