Microsoft outages affecting dispatch centers across the country

Dispatch centers across the country reported disruptions due to the Microsoft 365 outage, including having to write 911 calls on paper to share with first responders

July 19, 2024 11:54 AM

Worldwide Internet Outage — The logo of Microsoft is seen outside it’s French headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, outside Paris, Monday May 13, 2024. Microsoft users worldwide, including banks and airlines, reported widespread outages on Friday, July 19, 2024 hours after the technology company said it was gradually fixing an issue affecting access to Microsoft 365 apps and services. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

By Editorial Staff

WASHINGTON — A widespread outage affecting Microsoft 365 apps caused significant disruptions globally on Friday, impacting banks, airlines, television networks, health systems and law enforcement, CBS News reported.

The issue, traced to a technical problem with CrowdStrike’s Falcon Sensor software, led to the cancellation of thousands of flights and delays in many public and retail services, according to the report.

CrowdStrike, which provides antivirus software to Microsoft, identified and began resolving the issue.

“The underlying cause has been fixed, however, residual impact is continuing to affect some Microsoft 365 apps and services,” Microsoft stated.

Outages have also had an impact on law enforcement across the country, local news outlets reported.

Arizona

Early Friday, emergency response systems at major police agencies and healthcare providers in the Phoenix area were disrupted due to the outage, AZ Central reported. The outage affected vital services, leading some police and ambulance providers to dispatch cars manually.

Emergency dispatchers were able to take 911 calls but had to write down information on paper to share with first responders, according to the report. The Phoenix Police Department’s computerized 911 dispatch center was among those affected, according to department spokesperson Donna Rossi. The systems were restored early Friday morning, as confirmed in a social media post.

The issue began late Thursday night, with 911 call centers taking calls but dispatching officers manually.

“We are working off cards right now... We have no internet. We have no CAD... we’re still working on it,” said another Phoenix dispatcher.

Colorado

The outage has also impacted Colorado law enforcement, KRDO reported. The Colorado Springs Police Department stated they were on “priority alert” due to difficulties with their dispatch operations. They were asking residents who needed police assistance for non-emergencies to file reports online.

Similarly, the Colorado State Patrol reported that their dispatch problems were affecting documentation but stated they were still operating normally, according to the report.

Connecticut

Several police departments in Connecticut have experienced disruptions due to the outage, NBC Connecticut reported. State police reported that while some of their computers were functioning, others were not, prompting state troopers to use notepads for recording information.

Iowa

The Marion County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office said phone lines were down in a Friday morning Facebook post, noting 911 calls could still go through “but they may be routed to neighboring counties” and “any emergency calls will be promptly redirected to us,” USA Today reported.

Minnesota

Emergency services in Minnesota have reported issues with 911 call centers potentially not receiving calls, KARE reported. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook around 2 a.m. that their 911 services were back online after earlier glitches. Similar issues were reported in the Twin Cities metro and Duluth areas, according to DownDetector, which tracks user-reported outages. Other states in the Midwest, including Indiana, Ohio, and Kansas, have also reported problems with 911 services.

If 911 is unavailable, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office advises residents to go to local fire departments for assistance.

New Hampshire

The New Hampshire 911 server system was fully restored about two hours after going down, WMTW reported. Dispatchers said they were able to see incoming calls but were unable to answer them, as a result of the Microsoft outage. Dispatchers were able to get the numbers of incoming calls and call those people back to ensure that people got the help and services they needed.

New York

In New York, basic city services, including 911 and 311, continue to operate, but police and firefighters are being dispatched via radio, WABC reported. Police and fire agencies were unable to use their department-issued phones due to the Microsoft 365 outage, and many desktop computer functions were unavailable.

A mayoral spokesperson addressed the situation, stating, “We are aware of the global technical outage involving CrowdStrike and are currently assessing the full impact it may have on city operations. Critical infrastructure and emergency operations, including the 911 call system, have not been impacted.”

Ohio

Law enforcement agencies in Ohio were adjusting to a widespread Microsoft outage, WFMJ reported. Several dispatchers confirmed that systems used to access driving and criminal records are down, but they emphasized that people can still report emergencies.

A spokesperson for the Ohio State Highway Patrol stated that the outage is not affecting their ability to respond to calls for service, according to the report.

“Ohio state troopers remain visible across the state and continue to assist the motoring public. If in need of assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol please call #677,” the statement read.

Tennessee

The Memphis Police Department (MPD) and Memphis Fire Department (MFD) were also impacted, FOX 13 reported. MPD said that some police systems were affected but that it’s not impacting the department’s ability to police.

“We are still answering calls and officers are being dispatched to calls for service,” MPD said. The outage did not impact the department’s ability to serve Memphis citizens, MPD said.

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