PHONE OUTAGE UPDATE
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed this evening reported that ambulances from Community Life Team have been moved from their central headquarters on South Cameron Street to stand-by at city fire stations because of the loss of telephone system throughout most of the city and areas north of the city.
Citizens have been advised to go to the nearest fire station to report any fire, police or medical emergency. Having the ambulances at the fire stations will accelerate their response time.
Reed also reported that city police units have been stationed at multiple stationary points citywide to also stand-by to receive any emergency service requests, since citizens, including many with cell service, cannot make calls.
The Mayor said that the city’s Emergency Management Center was activated and is fully staffed. Plans are current being drawn-up to cause police and other emergency staff to go on 12-hour shifts, instead of the usual three shifts-per-day, to increase the number of personnel on the streets to assure availability for on-street communications with citizens until telephone service would be restored. Verizon has not indicated when service will return to normal.
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