Methods and systems for adapting positioning reference signal (PRS) transmissions are disclosed. A server receives a request to support an emergency call associated with a user equipment (UE) and sends a first PRS schedule to a first base station, the first PRS schedule configured to enable the first base station to switch to a first emergency PRS mode and to transmit PRS signals according to the first PRS schedule. The base station establishes a PRS schedule, switches to an emergency PRS mode, and transmits PRS signals in accordance with the PRS schedule. A UE initiates an emergency call, receives positioning assistance data from a server, performs terrestrial radio location positioning measurements based on the received positioning assistance data, and provides the terrestrial radio location positioning measurements or a location computed from these measurements to the server.