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Atlanta Officials Outline E-911 Recovery and Dispatch Upgrades
City leaders point to restored operations, new medical instructions for call takers, and a new Southwest Atlanta station as steps to strengthen response.
How we reported this
Atlanta's E-911 system returned to full operation after a Verizon outage, city records show. Officials listed web dispatch at atlantaga.gov/request-dispatch and Text-to-911 as working alternatives during the disruption.
The restoration arrives while the city pushes multiple changes to its emergency network. Officials have tied the moves to shorter response times and better instructions for callers before help arrives. The steps follow documented gaps in prior performance and recent network problems that affected Fulton County lines.
New station and protocol changes
Atlanta Fire Rescue opened an EMS station on Campbellton Road in Southwest Atlanta. The site targets faster arrival for calls in that corridor. At the same time, the E-911 Communications Department rolled out an Emergency Medical Dispatch protocol. Trained call takers now give instructions such as CPR or the Heimlich maneuver while units travel to the scene. Source documents from Fulton County and city sites list both actions as active.
These changes build on earlier performance data. Atlanta's 911 center answered 84 percent of calls within 20 seconds in 2024. Officials set a target of 95 percent by the end of the year. The new station and dispatch rules form part of the effort to reach that mark.
Public sign-up options
Residents can receive city alerts through NotifyATL. Enrollment works by texting 24639 or visiting atlantaga.gov/notifyatl. City sites also direct people to call 911 for emergencies and 311 for issues such as street flooding or downed trees.
Officials continue to monitor system performance after the outage. The listed web and text options remain available for anyone who cannot reach a call taker by phone. Updates appear on atlantaga.gov and fultoncountyga.gov pages tied to emergency management.