Southaven's 9-1-1 system hit a dangerous communications snag Monday night, with the police department warning that some incoming emergency calls were dropping or failing to connect. Residents who cannot get through are being urged to use backup phone numbers while the problem is being repaired.
In a Southaven Police alert, the department said it was experiencing intermittent problems with incoming 9-1-1 calls and that its service provider was working to resolve them. The alert did not identify the provider or give a restoration time, leaving callers with a simple but important instruction: if a 9-1-1 call drops or will not connect, call one of the alternate lines below.
Backup Numbers For Callers Who Can't Get Through
For Southaven, the department listed 662-393-8652 — its main phone number — and 662-393-0228 as alternate ways to reach emergency communications. The city's official emergency communications page also lists 662-393-0228 as an emergency phone alongside 9-1-1.
Callers trying to reach the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department were directed to 662-469-8500. The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office lists that number for the sheriff's office.
Officials Have Not Identified The Cause
Southaven Police described the trouble as intermittent rather than saying every 9-1-1 call was down. No estimated fix time appeared in the notice, so residents should keep the alternate numbers handy until the department announces that normal service has returned.
DeSoto County has had to lean on backup numbers before. During a 2021 9-1-1 disruption tied to winter-storm damage in AT&T's network, DeSoto County News reported that officials used alternate lines monitored by the same 9-1-1 call takers while repairs were tested.
That earlier episode does not establish what caused Monday's trouble, and Southaven has not blamed a carrier, fiber cut or weather event. For now, the practical takeaway is straightforward: try 9-1-1 first, and if the call fails or drops, switch to one of the listed backup numbers.
