Some still worry after 911 dropped calls problem fixed
This video is no longer available.
MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. — Geneva Rauchle has a heart condition. She said news of dropped 911 calls on Monday made her worry when she needed help most, she would not be able to reach anyone. “First thing I thought was, that’s bad! ‘Cause when I need it, I need it!” Rauchle said. She said she and her husband, Billy, both have heart problems, and they said they could need medical attention at any time. “I had bypass surgery in 1994, but I still have spells with my heart,” she said. Emergency communications sent out a notification Monday that in the event of an emergency, a cell phone call dialing 911 may not go through. Madison County 911 Director Kim Augustine said one call in Madison County was reportedly dropped. Others were reported in Hardeman and Shelby counties. “This is a public safety concern because of the 911 issue, and the calls could be dropped. I know we had one call that actually went to Henderson County this morning, but it was a Madison County call. It had to be transferred back,” Augustine said. Just before 6 p.m. Monday, TEMA officials said at least one cell phone carrier, AT&T, was able to locate the problem and were able to bypass the troubled equipment that caused dropped calls and interference. “While you’re talking to one 911 caller, another call could come in right on top of it, and you would drop a call while the other call is in your ear with no warning at all,” Augustine said. She said everything should be working properly now. Geneva Rauchle said she and her husband worry it could happen again. “If you have any kind of delay sometime, it would be too late. Especially when you have heart trouble like I do,” Rauchle said. We tried to reach out Monday to some other cell phone carriers. However, we were unable to reach anyone for comment. The 911 director said if you call 911 from a cell phone and it is dropped, you can still call a 7-digit phone number. Those numbers are under the “Seen on 7” section of our website.
