COG task force meets with Verizon to discuss 911 outages - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

COG task force meets with Verizon to discuss 911 outages during June derecho

Verizon officials sat down with 911 directors from around the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments region in Alexandria Wednesday to review the company's report on loss of emergency call service during the storm.

Parts of Fairfax, Arlington, Prince William County and Manassas were unable to get 911 calls through when the powerful storm knocked out electricity throughout the area.

Verizon's report blames failed generators and drained backup batteries at the Fairfax and Arlington central offices.

A Verizon spokesperson, Harry Mitchell, says Wednesday's meeting was cordial and constructive. He says an audit of backup power systems has been conducted in Fairfax and Arlington to correct problems.

But Fairfax County 911 director Steve Souder says, "They have not fixed the problem almost anywhere." Souder does, however, say he thinks the telecommunications company is working diligently to make improvements. Still Souder says, they have a long way to go.