Usually for each NPA (the 3 digit # after the area code) anything ending in 911 redirects to that locality's 911.
This was used by griefers on the early net. You say "you wanna call me up huh go ahead my phone number is XXX-XXX-X911" and they get connected with the police.
If 911 is down, you should call a specific police station. They will be broken down into zones or districts in larger cities, and I can see phone numbers for zones in two cities I've lived in on their sites.
That much is obvious. A single switchboard can also cover multiple towns in some circumstances.
>In larger cities it could be zone based. But "911" always has a second # that can directly connect you, ending in 911.
I'll take your word for it since I'm obviously not going to check... I just checked my local PD and I can't find any mention of this whatsoever on their website.
You can always call the police dept. their # will be on their site