Tuesday morning in Jacksonville came with the kind of alert no one wants to wake up to: the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced that both its 911 and non-emergency phone lines were down, and asked residents to lean on 911 for any immediate threats while crews worked to fix the problem. Technicians were working on repairs, the agency said, and dispatchers would be able to see missed calls and attempt to call people back when possible. Officials urged patience and promised to share updates as the situation evolved.
What the sheriff's office said
In a post on X, the Jax Sheriff's Office said its Communications Section "is actively working on repairs and seeking workarounds" and urged anyone needing emergency help to still call 911. According to the post, dispatchers will be able to see calls that do not go through and will try to call those numbers back.
ALERT: Both our 911 and our non-emergency phone lines are currently down. Our Communications Section is actively working on repairs and seeking workarounds.
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) February 17, 2026
If you are in need of emergency assistance, please call 911. Our dispatchers will see the missed call and call you back.…
The sheriff's main website lists emergency 9‑1‑1 and the non‑emergency number 904‑630‑0500, and it also carries the agency's news feed and contact information. Residents are being advised to keep an eye on that page for official notices while the Communications Section works to restore full service.
Past outages in Duval County
JSO has been here before. Action News Jax reported a countywide issue on Jan. 14, 2025, that briefly knocked out 911 and non-emergency dispatch lines before they were restored later that day. Episodes like that one are a big part of why officials keep repeating the same message during outages, follow official instructions and stick with verified channels for information.
How to stay safe during the outage
If there is an immediate threat to life or property, JSO says to call 911. Even if the call fails at first, the agency says its dispatchers will be able to see the missed call and attempt to call you back.
If calls will not connect at all and the situation is urgent, residents are advised to go in person to the nearest hospital emergency room or a police substation to get help. For non-urgent issues, officials suggest using online services or waiting until the sheriff's office announces that non-emergency phone operations are back up.
The sheriff's office says it will update the public as repairs are completed; check the JSO website along with the agency's social channels for the latest information.
