Incident Report Times Explained: Reported, Imported and Refreshed

Three timestamps can appear around the same incident: the time associated with the publisher’s record, the time a website checked that source and the time your map refreshed. They answer different questions. A page that just loaded can still contain a record from hours earlier.

Report time: when the record is dated

Read the field label and the publisher’s explanation. Some records describe a call’s opening time; others reflect a later update or publication. Do not assume every agency uses the same definition. Keep the stated time zone attached when comparing records.

A newsroom article’s publication time is a separate timestamp. It tells you when that publisher released the article, not necessarily when an incident began. A revised article can also appear later than the original dispatch entry.

Source check: when the connection was examined

A successful check means the website received a usable response at that point. It does not certify that the response contains new incidents or that an agency publishes every call. An unchanged batch can still be a healthy connection.

Our connected metro directory and source labels help distinguish connection state from coverage scope. An unavailable feed may leave earlier imported records visible with a status explanation.

Refresh time: when your view updated

A map refresh asks for the website’s latest available display. It cannot force an agency to publish a new record. Filtering or reloading also does not make an older entry current.

Signal 911’s recent display uses a defined report window, while older records may have separate historical pages. A record leaving the view can reflect the time window or a publisher change rather than a confirmed resolution.

A quick comparison checklist

1. Check the agency and jurisdiction.
2. Read the record’s actual timestamp and zone.
3. Check source availability and coverage.
4. Open the original publisher for context.
5. Keep news, radio and dispatch times separate.

Try these steps with our Seattle feed guide or Houston guide. An incident marker is not an official instruction or proof that a response is ongoing. Emergencies belong on 911.