Emergency 911 service in Douglas County was interrupted, then diverted after excavation workers at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center hit and damaged cable lines to the building Monday.
The damaged lines forced county departments and Lawrence Police to find alternative methods to communicate with the public. Emergency 911 calls are being directed to the emergency dispatch center at Kansas University. Some departments are asking residents to call different numbers for administrative issues.
"We're just so early into this," Commissioner Jere McElhaney said. "We don't know how long this will last.
McElhaney said an excavation crew hit unmarked cable lines while doing work on the east side of the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center.
County Administrator Craig Weinaug said the matter has forced the county to use its alternative dispatch location at Kansas University.
People should continue calling 9-1-1 if they have an actual emergency. But Weinaug urged residents with administrative questions to come in person to law and court offices or defer their business.
Lawrence Police Sgt. Dan Ward said residents with calls of an administrative nature, such as records, should call 830-7400.
"That number will be operation during the time of the phones being out," he said.
People with administrative questions for the Douglas County Sheriff's Department should call 830-1024, said Sheriff Lt. Kari Wempe.
She said people should leave a message at that number. The message will then be passed along to the appropriate person.
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bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
and the main fire radio went down, too. was it from the same cause?
"will cowboy for food," the sign said.