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Aurora Officials Face Choices on Emergency System Redundancy After Fiber Cut
City leaders must decide how to prevent future disruptions to phone and internet services that support public safety operations.
How we reported this
A fiber optic cable cut near Interstate 88 knocked out Aurora’s internet, website, and phone systems early Thursday. The outage hit non-emergency channels while the separate 911 dispatch center continued operations through its dedicated setup.
Dispatch Center Stands Apart From City Network
The renovated $1.4 million 911 emergency dispatch center opened in February 2024. It includes 12 workstations each equipped with up to eight monitors and advanced communication technology designed to speed response times. Rush Copley Medical Center maintains a Level II Trauma Center emergency department with 24/7 physician, operating room, and laboratory coverage.
The outage highlighted the difference between the dedicated 911 infrastructure and the broader city network that supports myAurora 311 and other services. myAurora 311 launched in March 2025 and routes non-emergency requests for street maintenance, debris removal, and garbage issues through a mobile app, online portal, or by dialing 3-1-1 with call center hours set from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Alert Systems and Radio Reach Offer Alternatives
Aurora Alert already sends emergency notices, severe weather warnings, and traffic updates by text, email, phone calls, and TTY devices. More than 40,000 landline numbers are registered. The Aurora Emergency Management Agency secured an FCC waiver to raise Emergency Radio Station 1650 AM to 10 watts, extending coverage across the full city for warnings.
Residents can sign up for Aurora Alert by texting AURORAIL to 888777 or registering at the city site. The Emergency Management Agency coordinates disaster resources under the Public Safety department to reduce life and property risks.
Restoration work by the IT Department and partners continues after the fiber damage. Officials now evaluate options for added backup links and expanded use of the radio station and Aurora Alert to maintain service during future network failures.