The San Juan County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed that 911 emergency dispatch service is again working for residents of Lopez and Shaw Islands.

At this time, it appears that on-island telephone service is functioning with on-island phone calls and 911 service on Orcas Island. However, given the unstable service situation, OIFR recommends the following steps to report all emergencies:

1. First, dial 911 from a land line

2. Then try OIFR direct at 376-2331 from a land line

3. You can email 911@sanjuanco.com

An apparent failure in an underwater data cable at 4 a.m. on Tuesday disrupted communications between San Juan County and the mainland and between islands in the County itself.

For a time the break interrupted 911 emergency dispatch service on all but San Juan Island, the home of the County government. 911 service  and interisland phone service has been restored to Lopez and Shaw Islands, however residents of the smaller neighboring islands are being urged to route emergency calls through the Orcas Fire Department at 376-2331.

Phone carrier Centurylink, the service provider responsible for the cable and services affected, has said that it hopes to have 911 and inter-island communications with Orcas restored today.

In a morning  conference call, phone company representatives told San Juan County’s emergency responders that a temporary fix to restore communications with the mainland was in the works, but that it was not an easy fix and set no firm time frame.

Meanwhile, on San Juan Island, DSL Internet services, cell phone service, as well as telephone service to the mainland remain disrupted. Internet services remain available through some providers and is being offered at public libraries and at the main county government offices in Friday Harbor.