CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. -- The scanners started buzzing in the Channel 6 Newsroom about 6:30 p.m. Monday with chatter that Cambria County 911 was off-line. Officials at the center confirmed the entire system, plus backups, were knocked out in an instant.

According to the 911 executive director, a new generator was being put into the Ebensburg building, when the contractors ran into some type of malfunction. The problem drained both backups: the generator and the battery.

Officials called for emergency personnel throughout the county to man their stations to handle phone calls. Also, a mobile command unit was brought up from Johnstown to give 911 dispatchers a place to work and communicate with fire, police and EMT crews until the problem could be fixed. 911 calls were also re-routed to Somerset County dispatch for a time.

The 911 center is currently up to full power once again. It's not clear exactly how long the center was completely off-line, or if any emergency calls were left unanswered. Officials said there will be a thorough investigation of the incident.