AMBULANCE PHONE LINES OUT; RESPONSES STILL MADE

All phone lines went out Monday afternoon at the Cape Girardeau County Private Ambulance Service Inc. office, but units were able to respond to emergency calls received via radio.

Partial service was restored around 7 p.m., but Southwestern Bell technicians were not expected to get all lines back in working order until sometime today.

Michael Craig, operations supervisor at the ambulance service said all phone service to the company's building at 1458 N. Kingshighway went off line shortly after 2 p.m. Monday. Callers received a busy signal.

"This has not happened in recent memory, but it's one of those things we have to be prepared for," Craig said.

Ambulances responded to emergencies through radio contact with local police departments and the Cape Girardeau County sheriff's office.

"Instead of ringing it down, when they get the information they call us on the radio," Craig said.

The service has three lines: one that receives 911 calls routed from the central dispatcher, a seven-digit direct line for ambulance service, and a business line. Craig said the service was unable to receive calls from hospitals and nursing homes, which generally use the direct line for standard patient transfers.

A phone company representative said the interruption in service likely resulted from a break in the phone cable, Craig said.