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Nearly 93K DeKalb 911 calls took more than 40 seconds to answer— if they were answered at all
By Michael Doudna at WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· July 8, 2026
· 4 min read
More than 92,000 times, DeKalb County residents calling 911 were left waiting at least 40 seconds for the county to pick up the phone, if the call was answered at all. Channel 2’s Michael Doudna learned that this year, DeKalb County conducted an audit of 622,000 911 calls from September 2024 to M...
Key takeaway Channel 2’s Michael Doudna learned that this year, DeKalb County conducted an audit of 622,000 911 calls from September 2024 to May 2025.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The DeKalb County 911 call audit's findings have significant implications for public safety in the Atlanta area. With nearly 93,000 calls taking more than 40 seconds to answer, or not being answered at all, the consequences can be devastating, as illustrated by Sherri Chance's harrowing experience of being on hold for over 40 minutes while her house burned. The audit's identification of staffing, retention, and technology issues as contributing factors suggests that the county's recent $9 million investment in its E911 system is a step in the right direction. However, it remains to be seen whether these improvements will be enough to address the systemic problems plaguing the 911 call system. As DeKalb County residents rely on 911 for emergency services, the county must prioritize resolving these issues to restore public confidence and ensure timely responses to emergencies.
About this story
Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 8, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? More than 92,000 times, DeKalb County residents calling 911 were left waiting at least 40 seconds for the county to pick up the phone, if the call was answered at all. Channel 2’s Michael Doudna learned that this year, DeKalb County conducted an audit of 622,000 911 calls from September 2024 to M...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 8, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Michael Doudna at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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