Hundreds of people called 911 after BC earthquake, clogged up emergency lines

By

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Hundreds of people called 911 following the earthquake, clogging up emergency lines.

For one local family who had an actual emergency, those busy phone lines meant trouble for them.

Zdenko Feigelstock’s young daughter was having a seizure for the first time. They tried to call 911 but couldn’t get through because so many people were calling with questions that aren’t considered an emergency.

“She was unconsolable, unresponsive to anything we would do. She was shaking and doing what people do when they have a seizure. It was the first time we’ve ever seen that so we had no clue what was going on,” he explains. “We tried for about two or three minutes, couldn’t get through. We called our friend who is a doctor, he wasn’t answering. We called his wife, she wasn’t answering so finally we have a friend in Kelowna who is a nurse, and we called her.”

Their friend had success getting someone on the line and thankfully, Feigelstock’s daughter is doing fine in hospital.

E-Comm says they received ten times the normal number of calls for a Tuesday near midnight, most people calling to ask questions about the earthquake.

 

 

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today