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Motorola Prepares to Support Local Private Communications Systems as Hurricane Isabel Makes Landfall

Posted on: Thursday, 18 September 2003, 06:00 CDT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As Hurricane Isabel makes landfall along the North Carolina coast today, Motorola, Inc. is proactively working to ensure its customers' private communications systems remain fully operational in the event of power outages and storm damage. Over the past several days, field support and product teams have been placed on high alert, preparing to build and ship equipment and resources to customers, as well as undertake facility repair and recovery as needed.

"We have all the necessary resources in place to help customers maintain the integrity of their private communications networks in what will be the second major crisis to hit the Northeast in the last two months," said Jim Screeden, Motorola Communications and Electronics, Inc. Vice President, Systems Integration Operations. "While no major interruptions in service have been reported this afternoon, we stand ready to deploy all available resources to support public safety and first responder communications systems in the event of power loss or equipment storm damage."

In addition to staying in close contact with affected customers and suppliers, Motorola has activated its Public Safety Emergency Ordering System. The system allows for immediate equipment shipping and priority handling of all customer requests. Already six equipment orders have been fulfilled and shipped to North Carolina and Virginia. Specifically, Motorola shipped 100 XTS 5000(TM) portable radios to Charlotte for potential use by the North Carolina Highway Patrol, 17 MT2000(TM) radios to the Army National Guard in Hartford, Conn., and two Quantar(TM) UHF base stations to the Dare County Sheriff in Raleigh, N.C. In addition, the North Carolina Highway Patrol has offered to airlift Motorola equipment and supplies to any agency needing immediate assistance.

Motorola's System Support Center, responsible for the 24-hour daily real- time monitoring of more than 600 SmartZone(R) communications networks nationwide, offers a special 800 number for customers to request and secure emergency resources. Center systems also are used to dial into 911 and SmartNet(TM) networks potentially affected by the hurricane hourly to assess system availability, functionality and general operation. The Center continues to proactively notify Motorola Maintenance customers of impending service interruptions due to the weather or other breaking news.

Three Motorola mobile trunked communications systems stand ready to be deployed to any city or county affected by Isabel to ensure critical public safety, utility and government communications networks remain operational. Currently, a mobile, five-channel 800 MHz trunked radio site located in Savannah, Ga., is being programmed in conventional mode to support local mutual aid systems and will be transported to Raleigh later today as a precautionary measure. Two others located in Albany, N.Y., and Columbia, S.C., will also be deployed as required.

Motorola's proactive preparation for Isabel's arrival follows the company's leadership in responding to other large-scale crisis situations in the past. For example, Motorola deployed emergency communications systems, resources and support to public safety agencies in the wake of Hurricane Andrew; the first bombing of the World Trade Center in New York in 1993; the Branch Davidian stand-off in Waco, Texas; Hurricane Georges; the San Diego, Calif., high school shootings; the Oklahoma City federal building bombing; and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania.

"In an emergency, private communications networks remain one of the most powerful tools public safety and government agencies have at their disposal to maintain the safety and well-being of first responders and the citizens they protect," said Screeden. "The recent Northeast blackout further demonstrates the value of these networks with many large customers, including the statewide Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS) and New York City's Consolidated Edison, reporting no system interruptions throughout the duration of the event."

Motorola will continue to monitor, support and protect the integrity of its customers' communications networks as Hurricane Isabel diminishes in strength, Screeden said.

"Despite reported power outages in Chesapeake, N.C., and Virginia Beach, Va., as well as extensive flooding, our customers have maintained their communications capabilities with no serious system issues reported," said Screeden.

For more information on Motorola's portfolio of communications systems and solutions visit Motorola's website at http://www.motorola.com/ .

About Motorola's Safety and Security Solutions

Motorola is a leading provider of integrated communications and information solutions with 65 years of experience in meeting the mission- critical requirements of public safety, public service, government and enterprise customers worldwide. The company's extensive public safety and security portfolio includes: interoperable two-way radio communications solutions with encrypted security capabilities; command and control equipment and software applications, including computer-aided dispatch, 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 systems and automated records management systems; identification and tracking solutions, including palm/fingerprint and photo-imaging systems, as well as comprehensive information management capabilities for criminal justice and civil needs; and physical security and monitoring solutions, including remote monitoring and diagnostics.

About Motorola

Motorola, Inc. is a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2002 were $27.3 billion. Motorola is a global corporate citizen dedicated to ethical business practices and pioneering important technologies that make things smarter and life better for people, honored traditions that began when the company was founded 75 years ago this year. For more information, please visit http://www.motorola.com/ .

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.