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Verizon Wireless Readies Network, Emergency Services As Tropical Storm Fay Approaches Florida

Posted on: Monday, 18 August 2008, 15:00 CDT

Verizon Wireless has mobilized its emergency response plan as Tropical Storm Fay threatens the Florida Keys and west coast of Florida later today.

To protect its wireless network and preserve communications for wireless customers and emergency agencies, Verizon Wireless has set up designated emergency command centers across Florida and deployed hundreds of technicians to prepare the network. In addition, the company's network response teams are now on alert to immediately serve in any hard-hit areas.

Media representatives are invited to travel with a test team, visit a wireless switch facility or emergency command center to see how a wireless company ensures wireless phone coverage for customers before, during and after a storm. For more information, contact Chuck Hamby at 813-404-6029.

Additional highlights of the company's emergency response plan include:

-- Assigning a representative to the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to work directly with the EOC staff and make available hundreds of loaner phones to state and local emergency response agencies.

-- Pre-arranging fuel delivery to mobile units and generators to keep the network operating at full strength even if power is lost for an extended period of time.

-- Pre-positioning a fleet of dozens of Cells on Wheels (COWS), Cells on Light Trucks (COLTS) and generators on trailers (GOaTS) to be rolled into hard-hit locations or areas that need extra network capacity immediately after the storm.

-- A new 35-foot $150,000 Disaster Response Trailer is ready to be used as temporary customer service location in areas impacted by a disaster.

"As we've seen in past storm seasons, wireless communication is crucial during an emergency," said Pam Tope, Florida region president for Verizon Wireless. "It is important that we implement a comprehensive plan to make sure the network stays strong and calls go through when and where they're needed most."

During the past 18 months, Verizon Wireless has spent more than $250 million in Florida to strengthen and enhance its wireless network. These kinds of intensive investments and preparations proved critical during the height of extraordinary storm seasons in the late summer and early autumn of 2004 and 2005. In those years, the Verizon Wireless network in Florida remained strong, while many other wireless communication networks struggled to serve residents and emergency response officials.

(Editor's Note: To obtain broadcast-quality video B-roll and still images of network operations/emergency preparations, visit the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia or contact Chuck Hamby at 813-404-6029).

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE:VOD). For more information, go to: www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

Source: Business Wire

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