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Billings 911 Services Resume After Verizon Outage, Residents Advised on Alert Updates
The resolution of a nationwide outage highlights ongoing changes in how Yellowstone County handles emergency communications and response.
How we reported this
Billings and Yellowstone County 911 emergency services returned to full operation after a nationwide Verizon outage ended around 3 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Dispatch functions through the Yellowstone Emergency Communications Center continued without interruption once service restored.
Why the Outage Resolution Matters Locally
Residents rely on these services for immediate response to fires, medical calls and other urgent situations across the city and county. The outage affected phone-based access to 911, underscoring the importance of backup alert methods that do not depend solely on cellular networks. Local households and businesses now see direct effects on how quickly help arrives during peak periods such as morning and evening rush hours on Interstates 90 and 94.
Shift to Everbridge Alerts and Dispatch Center
Yellowstone County now uses the Everbridge app under the Yellowstone County Informed system for emergency notifications including tornadoes, floods and fires. This replaced the earlier CodeRED and siren systems in 2024. The Yellowstone Emergency Communications Center remains the single point for handling all 911 calls serving both the city of Billings and the surrounding county area. Updates on road closures and active situations appear through the Emergency Alert icon on the Billings Public Works website.
Planned Changes to Fire Department Response
The Billings Fire Department is exploring a nurse navigator system that would triage non-life-threatening calls by phone before sending full fire and ambulance teams. This approach aims to reduce unnecessary vehicle dispatches while maintaining Advanced Life Support first response from the department, with transport handled by private or county-contracted ambulances.
Practical Steps for Residents
Local residents can download the Everbridge app and enable Yellowstone County Informed notifications to receive timely alerts. Checking the Billings Public Works site for the Emergency Alert icon provides current information on closures or incidents without needing a phone call. These steps help maintain awareness when cellular service faces similar disruptions in the future.