A problem with mobile phone routing is requiring west Tennessee residents to dial a new, 10-digit number in an emergency instead of 911.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency issued a series of text message alerts today asking residents to use an alternate emergency number due to a routing disruption for cellular calls.
TEMA officials say the 911 dispatch centers are still operational, but cell phone callers will need to use the alternative number for their county.
There are currently 17 west Tennessee counties reporting problems including Obion, Weakley, Henry and Benton.
Emergency officials say they don't yet have a cause for the problems or an estimated time of repairs to the routing service.
The current list of affected counties and their 10-digit phone numbers can be found below. TEMA stresses that these numbers are for emergencies only.
Benton (731) 279-4280
Haywood (731) 772-1215
Chester (731) 989-2787
Henderson (731) 425-6202
Carroll (731) 986-8947
Henry (731) 642-2424
Crockett (731) 696-2104
Madison (731) 424-9677
Decatur (731) 852-3911
McNairy (731) 645-3406
Dyer (731) 285-4019
Obion (731) 885-3316
Fayette (901) 465-3456
Weakley (731) 364-5454
Gibson (731) 562-8176
Shelby (901) 543-6333
Hardeman (731) 658-5101
Hardin (731) 925-9007
