Billings Emergency Services Evolve: New Alert App, 911 Restoration, and Nurse Navigation

Billings and Yellowstone County emergency services have seen significant changes in recent months, from the adoption of a new mass notification platform to a promising shift in how the fire department handles non-life-threatening medical calls. These developments come against the backdrop of a nationwide Verizon outage that briefly knocked out 911 service in the area, a stark reminder of how quickly daily operations can be disrupted.

Everbridge Replaces CodeRED for Emergency Alerts

In 2024, Yellowstone County transitioned from the CodeRED emergency alert system to the more advanced Everbridge platform, now the county's primary tool for alerting residents to tornadoes, floods, fires, and other critical events. Users can join the “Yellowstone County Informed” group within the Everbridge app to receive citywide warnings and news updates directly to their phones. The change was part of a broader effort to modernize public-safety communications, which also includes the 24/7 Billings City/County 911 Communication Center that coordinates both emergency and non-emergency calls for the city and surrounding county.

911 Restoration After Nationwide Outage

Emergency service reliability was put to the test recently when a nationwide Verizon outage interrupted 911 service in Billings and Yellowstone County. The issue was resolved around 3 a.m. Thursday, according to local reports. While the exact cause of the outage remains undisclosed, the event underscored the critical importance of redundant communication channels. Officials used the Everbridge system and social media to update residents during the disruption, though many residents were left checking TV and radio for guidance on how to reach help.

Billings Fire Department Eyes Nurse Navigation

Meanwhile, the Billings Fire Department is exploring a nurse navigation system to improve emergency medical response. Under the proposed model, dispatchers would determine whether a nurse, rather than a fire truck and ambulance, could handle certain low-acuity calls, freeing up frontline emergency resources for truly life-threatening situations. The approach has been piloted in other cities and could reduce response times and save money, though officials are still evaluating costs and staffing requirements. The program is still in the exploratory phase, with no firm rollout date announced.

What’s Next for Billings Emergency Preparedness

Residents are encouraged to download the Everbridge app and register for “Yellowstone County Informed” through the county’s Disaster and Emergency Services website to stay current on alerts. The Billings City/County 911 Communication Center remains fully operational at all hours, fielding calls for both city and county. The recent Verizon outage, paired with the gradual shift in tech and response models, suggests that Billings emergency management is moving toward a more adaptive, technology-driven future, even as it grapples with the limits of existing infrastructure.