"At this time, we're pleased to announce that the 911 service is fully operational and back to normal," said Gino Menchini, the commissioner for the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, after the system was restored at 9:37 p.m.
Verizon, which handles the city's 911 service, was doing a software upgrade, which somehow knocked out service in parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn at around 7:25 p.m., but may have also affected service in Queens and The Bronx, said Menchini.
The Office of Emergency Management and the NYPD quickly released backup numbers and direct station house numbers. The city's 311 system received 80 emergency calls that were rerouted to the appropriate service.
"We're working with Verizon to make sure the system remains stable and we'll be meeting with them to make sure this type of problem doesn't occur again," said Menchini.
